Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023
File: 23-8761
Victoria, BC – On May 15, VicPD’s Community Services and Patrol Divisions began Project Downtown Connect, a six-week initiative to connect with local businesses and increase visible presence in the downtown area.
Since the start of the project, officers have been visiting local businesses and listening to their concerns, including the impact that retail theft, property crime and street disorder has on their business operations. They have also been providing tips on keeping their businesses safe, in the form of reference cards.
In addition to providing crime prevention information, officers will be following up on concerns and taking action where appropriate.
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“Engaging with local businesses helps us understand the specific, day-to-day challenges they face, and answers the call for a more visible presence in the downtown core. Through this project we will provide businesses with crime prevention tools and a meaningful connection to our organization, so we can build a safer community together,” says Chief Constable Del Manak.
Project Downtown Connect has officers out on foot engaging with businesses seven days a week until June 30.
Project Downtown Connect builds on the successful Downtown Connect and Holiday Connect series which began in late 2019. These projects were created in response to concerns from businesses about retail theft, mischief, and aggressive behaviour in the downtown core.
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