Police in Guelph say more officers will be in the downtown core in the coming weeks to address "open drug use," criminal behaviours and public safety concerns.

In a statement, the Guelph Police Service said it has seen the number of drug poisonings rise in the city since 2020. Poisonings in the downtown "are more than four times higher than the next highest neighbourhood," the statement said.

The service has taken a "health-first approach to drug dependency," but says the downtown "has experience…