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Eleven Division experienced a significant decrease in overall crime since last year, Div. Staff Sgt. Tom Russell was happy to report at its Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) Town Hall meeting Tuesday evening at Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School.

There are seven major indicators that offer police all across North America a snapshot of information, Russell explained. These include homicide, sexual assault, robberies, break and enters, auto theft and theft over.

"We're down seven percent," he said, attributing the decrease in part to the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy (TAVIS). "It's been a downward trend over the last few years."

Another successful initiative was Project Recess, which after implementing the plan, police saw a reduction in street robberies by 50 percent.

"Our officers are in the right place at the right time," Russell said.

Police have also addressed drug trafficking in Parkdale, specifically at the Queen's Hotel, by closing the building down, he reported.

In the division's north end, in the Dundas Street West and Quebec Avenue area, residents are celebrating after enlisting officers' help in ridding the area of acts of vandalism. One-hundred-and-eighty people signed a petition, Russell told the audience, and his team implemented a program to prosecute the offenders. There were 135 arrests made, he said.

"That neighbourhood has a renewed sense of safety," said the veteran officer. "They had a street party to celebrate. This was a great example of the community coming forward and assisting us."

Aggressive driving was a priority for the division. While these incidents were up this year, Russell said, collisions are down.

"We believe in spot checks," he said. "You will see RIDE spot checks out this season."

Eleven Division's new police digs, the former Carleton Village P.S. on Davenport Road is set to open on Nov. 11, 2011. Currently, architects and a design team are being chosen for the project.

"Our current building has tremendous character, but it's had its day," said the officer, with a smile.

Pam Mountain, who works in the neighourhood close to the current police station on Mavety Street, wanted to know what will happen to the existing building.

"Can it be kept as a community building?" she asked. "We're going to miss it."

Although Russell admitted that he didn't have an immediate answer, he said he would find out at a meeting next month and let her know. No decisions have been made yet as to what the old police station will be used for, he added. The new station is presently outside the division's boundaries so these will have to be rejigged in time for its official opening.

The underlying theme of the meeting was 'Investing in our future - our kids, families, homes, neighbourhoods.' CPLC member Sarah Doucette said she got involved with the group because she is a parent.

"I saw youth in our area and wanted to help in some direction," she said. "The CPLC is a wonderful group to get involved with. We get together with the police to talk about our communities."

Likwa Nikala was the featured speaker. He is a well-known and much-applauded anti-violence educator of and for young people who have suffered violence or are in danger of losing their way because of violence in their homes or communities. He has made presentations and facilitated workshops for thousands of kids and families and professionals across the GTA.

"We have to reach out to our young people to get them to care," he said as part of his interactive dialogue with the audience. "If we think someone else is going to fix our kids, it's not going to happen. CPLC is a great way to start. When you come to meetings like this, come with your own agenda. Force the people at the front to listen to you."

Ruth McLeod, a nurse at The Four Villages Community Health Centre, said that as part of the health centre's new satellite location, scheduled to be built next year next to the Shoppers Drug mart on Dundas Street West, east of Jane Street, they would like to cater to youth. She said the centre would like to provide a facility similar to a boys and girls club.

If there was a message that police wanted to convey at Tuesday's meeting it's that 11 Division is open for business, said Insp. Dave Saunders.

"We think we have a good team here," he said.

If you would like to find out more information, contact 416-808-1100 or visit www.torontopolice.ca