File: 20-30735

Victoria, BC – Officers are warning the public after a used, uncapped needle was found secured to a railing in Beacon Hill Park this afternoon.

Shortly before 5 p.m. today, officers on special duty assignment in Beacon Hill Park discovered a used, uncapped hypodermic needle tied to the handrail of a staircase near a heavily used path. There was a small amount of blood in the needle. Officers believe the needle was placed in this location with the intent to cause injury.

The needle was located in the West side of the park, near Douglas and Toronto streets. Photographs of the needle, as well as a photograph of the location it was found are included below.

Officers disposed of the needle in a safe manner.

The officers who located this needle were on special duty assignment, as VicPD has deployed extra officers to Beacon Hill Park and the Burnside Gorge neighborhood to increase police visibility and engagement in those areas. For the month of August, officers will continue to maintain a consistent, high-visibility presence in these areas. The goal of this project is to respond to the concerns of residents and businesses that have been expressed to VicPD over the past few weeks.

If you have information about this incident, you are asked to call the VicPD non-Emergency line at (250) 995-7654 and select option 1 for the report desk. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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