Trespassing prevention pilot program to launch soon

A trespassing prevention pilot program that was initially announced at February’s Police Board Meeting is almost ready to launch. 

Sergeant Ryan Lawrence with the Moose Jaw Police Service spoke about the program at yesterday’s Police Board Meeting. “I have an ongoing list of people who want to partake once it’s launched. Where we’re at now internally is training our officers and we’re launching on the website as soon as we’re ready to actually go out and put the stickers on.” 

“Within the next two or three weeks, I think we’ll see the stickers being placed on businesses,” Lawrence added.  

The program is aimed at trespassing at businesses and multi-unit dwellings in the city. It is not for private residential properties. The first phase is focusing on the downtown core, with the intent to eventually expand to the rest of the city.  

The program doesn’t give officers more authority if a business or multi-unit dwelling has the sticker present, but it clarifies what action owners and occupiers want police to take when there are potential trespassers after hours.  

Lawrence followed up on how the process would work for multi-business buildings, as the question had been posed at February’s board meeting. “I reached out to other communities that have this program in effect already. Basically, they said the best option is they talk to the landlord and have everybody sign onto it.” 

Blanc asked if businesses along Lillooet Street W and 4th Avenue SW would be included in the initial phase. Lawrence replied that the area is not included in phase 1, but they are hoping to expand the program to the entire city sooner rather than later. 

Information on how to sign up for the trespassing program will be available on the Moose Jaw Police Service website here once the program has launched. 

“You can click and download the form, and then e-mail it or drop it off. Then we’ll take it, and we’ll come visit, do a site visit, and stick the stickers up,” said Lawrence.  

Patrol members have also been given business cards to hand out to businesses that have QR codes that will take people directly to the page on the Moose Jaw Police Service website. 

Lawrence said that they’ve also connected with downtown businesses about issues happening during daytime hours. 

“A couple of businesses have asked us to attend their staff meeting, and so we attended their morning huddle or their staff meeting, and have gone over shoplifting, trespassing, dealing with violent people, dealing with unhoused people.” 

He said that the meetings have been an opportunity to tell businesses what information police will be looking for when they make a call, including description of the suspect and direction of travel. 

Police also offer the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CEPTD) program for businesses and organizations. You can find more information on the police’s Business and Downtown Resource Page here.