MARCH 10, 2023

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Loss Prevention National Advisory Committee Update

RCC’s Loss Prevention Advisory Committee continues to build on the work started in 2022. We're focused on three Strategic Objectives and have identified priorities for 2023 with specific deliverables and expected outcomes.

Strategic Objectives

To ensure continued commitment, the LP Advisory Committee initiated a National LP Taskforce to work on a series of Strategic Objectives and establish a forum where police agencies, criminal justice branches, government agencies, and other community-based programs could work together with retail organizations on top priorities for retail. The goal is to explore the opportunities and recommendations that have been raised and initiate proof of concepts and pilots to test the recommendations that are approved.

1) Increase of workplace violence, arson, and property crime

2) Collaboration with Police, Justice, and government

3) Organized Retail Crime

Top Priorities

Retail Theft Unit in Police Agencies

Work with police agencies across Canada to establish a Retail Theft Unit with dedicated officers assigned to retail crime. 

Organized Retail Crime (ORC)

Create a national strategy and identify police contacts within each major city to form an ORC committee with retail ORC specialists.

National Retail Incident Reporting Platform

Identify the appropriate stakeholders to establish and approve the usage of one common platform for reporting incidents.

Retail Roundup/Blitzes

Build a strategy and communication plan for retail blitzes.

Victim Impact Statement/Community Impact Statement

Formalize the process for victim/community impact statements and recruit a representative from the criminal justice branch to meet with the group and provide input to composing an effective statement.

Retail Crime Report

Identify a partner to support an annual retail crime report and build survey questions and methodology with key stakeholders.

PROVINCIAL ACTIVITIES AND UPDATES

British Columbia: RCC launches working table with Vancouver police

Premier David Eby launched a new plan to strengthen enforcement to keep those who commit repeat violent offenses off the streets. This followed an expert report by Doug LePard and Amanda Butler. RCC, with representatives from various retail organizations, made both written and oral submissions to the report.

A new "repeat violent offender coordinated response team," comprising of police officers, dedicated prosecutors, probation officers, and correctional supervisors, has been created. These groups are sharing information and monitoring high-risk repeat offender cases through the criminal justice system.

Also, RCC has launched a Working Table with Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and retail members focused on repeat violent and prolific offenders and organized crime.

VPD launched Project Barcode which runs for a month and is part of the collaboration with police agencies to conduct retail blitzes. The focus of the project is to work with retailers to identify, apprehend, and prosecute violent and prolific offenders. The project is ongoing at the time of this update and from February 26, 2023, to March 4, 2023, 247 police files have been generated, 198 individual arrests, 35 repeat offenders identified – 10 of whom have over 200 police record entries and another 26 flagged as violent – 191 total charges, 79 released on the undertaking, and 18 weapons seized. Out of the total arrested (198), 115 are flagged as violent. To date $70,000 have been recovered through the program.

Alberta: Police presence boosted in retail areas

RCC is in conversations with the office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services to organize a working table with police, justice, retail representatives, and the minister’s office to collaborate on a retail crime strategy for the province of Alberta.

Alberta provincial government has launched a public safety initiative in Edmonton and Calgary where the Alberta Sheriffs will work with Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Edmonton Police Service (EPS) to reinforce police patrols. This will help deter crime and social disorder by allowing CPS and EPS officers to increase their visible presence in high-risk neighbourhoods where they operate, as well as provide officers with more opportunities to respond to community concerns, helping keep communities safe while treating mental health and addiction as health-care issues.

In February, Alberta Sheriffs launched 12-week and 15-week pilot partnerships in Calgary and Edmonton, respectfully.

Ontario: Crime Prevention Committee established

RCC has organized an Ontario Crime Prevention Committee in partnership with the 
Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police's (OACP) Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee.

The Committee has been established for collaboration and active participation in a crime prevention strategy focused on:

1) Addressing jurisdictional boundaries that prevent seamless and effective exchange of information between retailers, police agencies, and the Crown’s office;

2) Bridging the efforts of businesses, police, courts, and community safety programs supported by government to create a harmonious community safety and security plan;

3) Creating a multi-jurisdictional provincial unit to focus on organized retail crime.

The initial committee has representation from the Ministry of the Solicitor General, Ontario College of Pharmacists, Canadian Security Association, and the OACP. It is actively recruiting additional participants for the committee, including representation from the Ministry of the Attorney General and criminal justice branch.

March is Fraud Prevention Month

In 2022, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre saw over $530 million lost to fraud. RCC is working with industry partners to increase awareness of this rising issue with resources and fraud experts on the mainstage at RCC’s Retail Secure Conference.

Manitoba: Over 100 storefronts contribute to Project Safe Shop

In Manitoba, Project Safe Shop, focused on facilitating better collaboration between retailers, police, and the courts through its platform, is analyzing macro data to identify and convict the most prolific offenders. Over 100 retail storefronts are submitting data through the platform.

The Winnipeg Police Service is working with the project participants to investigate the program's repeat offenders, assess the nature of the offenses, and identify the serious and prolific offenders.

RCC is working with the Winnipeg operational table to define the protocols for retail theft incidents that are submitted through Project Safe Shop, hopefully formalizing the process and ensuring police agencies and courts follow a set protocol with dispositions for violent and prolific offenders.

Meanwhile, the Manitoba government has also invested more than $3 million in the Winnipeg Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other Manitoba police agencies to create an integrated violent offender apprehension unit with the objective of strengthening intensive bail and probation supervision for serious, violent offenders. Investments will support the ability to track and monitor high-risk and violent offenders and dedicate officers and provincial programs to intervene appropriately.

DEADLINE SATURDAY:

You're one of Canada's most innovative LP retailers. Get that recognition

RCC’s Excellence in Retailing Loss Prevention Award gives our community a unique opportunity to showcase excellent work, innovation, and creativity in the loss prevention space.

The Loss Prevention Award recognizes a retailer who has successfully implemented an LP strategy in order to improve the organization’s profits, focusing on innovative business solutions that address issues such as shoplifting, organized retail crime, data security, robbery, fraudulent cards, counterfeiting, and other situations.

Together, we can recognize and celebrate the achievements of those who are pushing the boundaries of traditional retail.

Submit your application by Saturday, March 11, 2023!

RCC CyberSecure: Upcoming webinars, new committee formed

RCC Retail CyberSecure program, launched late last year, is already a resounding success with Canadian retailers.

RCC, with the generous support of Ontario government’s Ministry of the Solicitor General, is working with cybercrimes experts, retail IT experts, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), have hosted two webinars already, which are free to view.

This initiative is creating essential resources to inform how retailers can fortify their systems and train their staff on the best practices in preventing cyber crime.

We have assembled a stakeholder committee to steer and guide the CyberSecure Program to ensure it meets the needs of the retail community.

The members of the committee are; Sgt. Avery Bassett, OPP, Ministry of the Solicitor General, Det. Sgt. Vern Crowley, OPP Cybercrime Investigation Team, Anita Schretlen, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Lindsay Gravelijn, Toronto Police Services, Cyber Investigations, Tara Glaim, Director, Technology Security, Aritzia, Sonny Sarai, Director, Information Security, Pattison Food Group, Dragana Panic, Director of Infrastructure and Security, Mec , Shamsher Dullet, Principal Architect, Cybersecurity, Lululemon, Derek Ho, Senior Manager, IT Security Threat and Vulnerability, Aritzia, David Royer, Director, Enterprise Risk & Compliance, Best Buy Canada, Gale Blank, Chief Information Officer, Reitmans Canada Ltd., Ron Borsholm, Senior Manager, Cyber Security, Arc'teryx Equipment, Kushal Sharma, Global Manager, Information Technology Security Risk Technology Services, Lululemon, and Det. John Armit, OPP, Economic Crimes and Corruption Unit (ECCU - Ottawa)

National Loss Prevention Taskforce Update

RCC continues to recruit police agencies from across the country to participate in the National Loss Prevention Taskforce and work with retail organizations on the top priorities for retail. The following police agencies have joined the RCC National LP Taskforce:

Halton Regional Police

Edmonton Police Service

York Regional Police

Vancouver Police Service

Toronto Police Services

Ontario Provincial Police

Ottawa Police Services

Peel Regional Police

London Police Service

UPCOMING LOSS PREVENTION MEETINGS

Retail Secure Conference
RCC’s Retail Secure Conference brings top retail loss prevention experts, industry suppliers, and security and law enforcement professionals together to explore actionable systems and forward-thinking retail solutions.

Loss Prevention Advisory Committee
Next meeting date is April 19, 2023 at 3pm ET
Committee meets every two months on the third Wednesday of the month at 3pm ET
 
National Loss Prevention Taskforce
Next meeting date is March 22, 2023 at 3pm ET
Taskforce meets every month on the third Thursday of the month at 3pm ET

RCC CyberSecure Advisory Committee
Next meeting date is March 9, 2023 at 1pm

Loss Prevention Supply Chain Committee

Next meeting date is March 15, 2023
Committee meets every month on the third Wednesday of the month at 1pm ET

Any members looking to take part in any of the committees are asked to contact Rui Rodrigues at rrodrigues@retailcouncil.org.

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