OACP looks at true nature of organized crime in Ontario; urges public awareness to ensure communities are protected

For Immediate Release: July 9, 2007

(Toronto, ON) – Ontario’s police leaders have shone a light on the true nature of organized crime in Ontario by releasing a major new report which details the many different aspects of organized criminal activities putting communities at risk across the province. 

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police’s (OACP) Out of the Shadows: An Overview of Organized Crime in Ontario looks at the role organized crime organizations play in such criminal activities as the production, distribution, and sale of illicit drugs, violence and guns-and-gangs, eCrime, fraud and money laundering, and the trafficking of human beings.

“For many people, ‘organized crime’ brings to mind a romanticized gangster stereotype often presented by popular culture.  The reality is that organized criminal activities have a devastating impact on countless families and communities everyday,” said OACP President Chief William Blair.  “This report seeks to raise public awareness of the true nature of organized crime as a threat to public safety in every community in Ontario.”

Chief Blair noted that the report seeks to help Ontarians better understand that organized crime can negatively impact anyone, anytime and encourages ordinary citizens to ensure they protect themselves and their families.

“Law enforcement is only part of the solution,” said Blair.  “OACP hopes that by issuing this report to the citizens we serve, we will encourage an appropriate perception of the real threats posed by organized criminal organizations, raise awareness about what police services and other law enforcement organizations are doing to counter these threats to public safety, and help citizens understand what they can do to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbourhoods.  A well-informed public is a well-protected public.”

Out of the Shadows: An Overview of Organized Crime in Ontario builds on a previous report issued by OACP in 2004 into marihuana grow operations entitled Green Tide: Indoor Marihuana Indoor Cultivation and it’s Impact on Ontario.

Click below to view the report.

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