Media Release: OACP and Partners Launch Retail Safety & Security Guide

MEDIA RELEASE

OACP and Partners Create Retail Safety & Security Guide to Protect Businesses & Communities

For Immediate Release: October 21, 2024

(Toronto, ON) – In support of Small Business Week (October 20-26), the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) is pleased to announce the publication of the Retail Safety & Security Guide. In collaboration with our partners at the Retail Council of Canada, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, and Toronto Police Service, the comprehensive toolkit was created to help retail businesses of all sizes across Ontario prevent and reduce incidents of crime, as well as enhance customer and staff safety.

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 Retail Safety & Security Guide is available online on 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, OACP Community Safety & Crime Prevention Committee

“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 at RCC

“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 of Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

"The Retail Safety and Security Guide will assist businesses in creating safer spaces for both workers and customers, while also helping to reduce the risk of criminal activity. Crime prevention is a shared responsibility, and I am proud of the collaboration that brought this toolkit to life. Our members look forward to working with local businesses—big and small—offering this practical tool to aid in crime prevention."

- Staff Superintendent Donald Belanger, Toronto Police Service

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For more information, contact: 

Dr. José Luís (Joe) Couto
Director of Government Relations & Communications
T. (416) 926-0424 ext. 22
C. (416) 919-9798
E. media@oacp.ca
X. @OACPOfficial
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Instagram: @OACPOfficial
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Members of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police serve their communities as the senior police leaders in municipal, regional, provincial, National, and Indigenous police services across Ontario.