Police have everything they need to end truck convoy occupation ‘in coming days’: Bell

Ottawa police say they now have everything they need to carry out what they call a “comprehensive, methodical and well-resourced” plan.

“We are going to take back the entirety of the downtown core and every occupied space. We are going to remove this unlawful protest. We will return our city to a state of normalcy,” interim chief Bell explained in a statement.

In the special city council meeting held on Wednesday, February 16, Interim police chief Steve Bell said police will be moving forth with their plan “in the coming days,” but would not release specifics.

“We now have the ability to remove [protesters] and have the resources and techniques to do that,” Bell said. “Our hope is as they look to the coming days, people will see our determination to get them to leave. If they don’t, then we have the means to remove them.”

He added, “We also have appropriate and lawful methods to remove anyone who refuses,” Bell said. “Some of the techniques we are lawfully able and prepared to use are not what we are used to seeing in Ottawa. But we are prepared to use them where necessary to bring about the safest outcome and restore order.”

The plan will be rolled out in steps and stages, Bell said, and this includes making sure children in the protest space are safe and unhurt.

“We also have a plan to ensure children are protected and cared for during any action,” he said.”You will be hearing and seeing these actions in the coming days.”

Risks always exist when dismantling a protest, Bell added, but police agencies are looking at ways to minimize those risks.

One such action is working with the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) and other youth service providers to ensure children are helped out of the demonstration area prior to police action.

Earlier Wednesday, CASO sent out a notice to parents at the demonstration, urging them to get their children out of the occupied area or make alternative arrangements for them to ensure their care.

However, Bell warned, that just because a time will come when the demonstration on the street will end, that doesn’t mean police go home.

As Bell explained, “The day the occupation in the street ends, is not the day the criminal process ends. That will go on for many months after this and those involved will be held accountable for what they’ve done for our city.”

As of now, Bell assured council that Ottawa police now have everything they need to get the job done.

He also assured that the city has a strong well-resourced plan “from now moving ahead to end the occupation in the city.”