Date: Monday, Oct 21, 2024
Unit: Community Partnerships and Engagement Unit
In support of Small Business Week (October 20-26), Staff Superintendent Donald Belanger, alongside representatives from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Retail Council of Canada, and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services announced the launch of the Ontario Retail Safety and Security Guide to keep businesses in Toronto and across Ontario safe.
"This Guide will assist businesses in creating safer spaces for both workers and customers, while also helping to reduce the risk of criminal activity," said Staff Superintendent Belanger. "Crime prevention is a shared responsibility, and I am proud of the collaboration that brought this guide to life. Our members look forward to working with local businesses--big and small--offering this practical tool to aid in crime prevention."
The Guide provides practical guidelines and resources to help businesses:
- Be less vulnerable to crime
- Identify and select an appropriate response to address retail crime
- Outline methods to prevent and address the most common and severe forms of retail crime
- Review techniques to address abusive customers, suspicious individuals, intoxicated individuals, as well as individuals experiencing a mental health crisis
- Provide measures to address or prevent violence in the workplace between customers or customers and staff
The Ontario Retail Safety and Security Guide is available online on the Retail Council of Canada website.
Quotes:
"The OACP, through our Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee, strongly endorses the official public release of this informative and highly valuable resource document. It is a result of significant, expert-driven collaboration between the retail business, law enforcement, and employee health and safety sectors that has culminated in a tool that elevates public safety outcomes for retail businesses, their employees, and the broader community throughout Ontario."
- Director Barry Horrobin and Deputy Chief Mark Dapat, Co-Chairs, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, Community Safety & Crime Prevention Committee
"Being proactive and prepared is key to safety and security for the retail sector. This collaborative initiative will help retailers of all sizes advance safety in the workplace with tools and resources that can be quickly put into practice. We are honored to play a role in the development of the Retail Safety & Security Guide.
- Jody Young, President and CEO, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
"Retail Council of Canada is proud to work with OACP Community Safety & Crime Prevention Committee, Workplace Safety and Prevention Services and Toronto Police to release the Retail Safety and Security Guide. This guide contains valuable information to help businesses of all size across Ontario, plan for the safety & security of their business, employees and customers."
- Rui Rodrigues, Executive Advisor, Loss Prevention & Risk Management, Retail Council of Canada
Nadine Ramadan
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