OACP urges public awareness to ensure communities are protected.

For Immediate Release: July 9, 2007

(Toronto, ON) – Ontario’s police leaders are shining a light on the true nature of organized crime by releasing a new report, Out of the Shadows: An Overview of Organized Crime in Ontario.  The report details the aspects of organized crime that are putting communities across the province at risk. 

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police’s (OACP) Report explores the role organized crime plays in such criminal activities as: the production, distribution, and sale of illicit drugs; gun and gang violence; eCrime, fraud and money laundering; and human trafficking and exploitation.

“Many people do not realize that organized crime has a devastating impact on countless families and communities every day,” said OACP President Chief William Blair.  “This report will raise the public’s awareness of the true nature of organized crime.”

Chief Blair noted that the report will not only help Ontarians understand the impact of organized crime but will also encourage the public to protect themselves and their families.

“Law enforcement is only part of the solution,” said Blair.  “Members of the public and the business community need to understand the threats associated with organized crime.  The OACP will help to educate people on what they can do to protect themselves.  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 the OACP in 2004 into marihuana grow operations entitled Green Tide: Indoor Marihuana Indoor Cultivation and it’s Impact on Ontario.