Ottawa's police chief and a city councillor are quashing suggestions that street gangs are at war in the city, calling the national capital one of Canada's safest communities.

Vern White said "misinformation" about recent west-end home invasions has sparked needless fear amongst residents. The city's top cop went to the length of scheduling a late-Friday afternoon media scrum outside the Elgin Street police headquarters, responding to published reports he deemed "fearmongering."

He insists there is no need for the public to feel insecure -- and no evidence to suggest Ottawa's 17 to 19 street gangs are fighting turf wars.

"If you look at other cities, whether it be Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal is probably the one that most people are most familiar with, when you see gang wars between outlaw motorcycle gangs, that's the kind of activity you'll see," White said.

"You will see open warfare. Look at Vancouver today. There are dead bodies in places where there shouldn't be dead bodies because of the gangs. We are not seeing that activity in this city."

White said there are an estimated 600 gang members between the ages of 17 and 24 in Ottawa. The Guns and Gangs unit has vowed to stop any potential street wars as quickly as they responded to mere suspicions.

Some west end residents say they fear the recent rash of violent crime in the area is linked to a rise in gang activity. The incidents include home invasions, robberies, and the early-June murder of 39-year-old Pamela Kosmack, who was discovered on a bike path near Britannia Road and Howe Street.

Bayshore resident Tammy Helmer feels secure enough to cook prime rib on her deck after dark. Her son Jamie Bouley has no problem going biking with friends.

Not all her neighbours feel as safe.

"My opinion is it's probably gang-related somehow, a grudge match," said Susan Astley, who has been more vigilant about keeping doors locked along with her husband Bruce.

But Bay Ward Councillor Alex Cullen, who represents the Britannia and Bayshore   neighbourhoods, echoed the police in dismissing the notion of a turf war.

"It's wrong to stigmatize a community unfairly, and unfortunately Bayshore has taken a bad knock that it doesn't deserve," Cullen told CTV Ottawa, pointing to area's middle-of-the-pack crime statistics.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Natalie Johnson