2010 Crime Prevention Campaign Seeks to Help Citizens Guard their Personal Information

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2010

(Toronto, ON) – The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) kicked off its 2010 Crime Prevention Campaign today. The 2nd annual Campaign is designed to raise public awareness about theft of personal information and on-line fraud.

“Crimes involving the stealing of someone’s personal information not only impact you in your wallet, but they have a devastating emotional impact,” said OACP President Chief Daniel Parkinson, Chief of Police, Cornwall Community Police Service. “Having someone take and use your personal information – your PIN number, the VIN number of your vehicle, information provided on-line – is a very personal attack.”

The campaign was kicked off at Toronto Police Service Headquarters by Deputy Chief Kim Derry of Toronto Police Service and Chair of the OACP Crime Prevention Committee. Deputy Chief Derry was joined by Chief Parkinson and a number of corporate and community partners to unveil the OACP’s 2010 crime prevention booklet. The booklet contains a variety of crime prevention tips focusing on ID theft, credit card fraud, auto theft, and insurance fraud.

“We’d rather prevent a crime than have to deal with the consequences of crime,” said Deputy Chief Derry. “That’s why we are committed to public education and partnerships with citizens as well as corporate partners that make this province-wide campaign possible.”

The OACP acknowledges the support of all its crime prevention partners. This year, we welcome our new on-line technology partners and their commitment to protecting their clients.

The 2010 crime prevention booklets are being made available to all police services in Ontario to support local crime prevention initiatives.   

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For more information, contact:

Joe Couto
Director of Government Relations and Communications, OACP
T. (416) 926-0424 ext. 22
C. (416) 575-1731
E. jcouto@oacp.ca
www.oacp.ca

Please find attached the OACP Media Release.