Canada Day Celebration

The Victoria Police Department will be deploying Close Circuit Television (CCTV) on July 1, in specific locations in the downtown core. The fundamental purpose of using the CCTV is to provide the Department with the capability to monitor the large crowds to enhance public safety.  The CCTV will assist in the rapid deployment of police resources and support other emergency services during any emergencies that may arise. 

A number of privacy procedure safeguards will be adopted.  These include:

• CCTV will only be in operation during the expected time periods when there is likelihood, demonstrated from previous years that activity dangerous to the public may occur.  Therefore, the cameras will be in operation from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM.
• Three cameras will be restricted to monitoring specific identified public areas: the Causeway, and the Government and Humboldt Street intersection.  The placement of these cameras will ensure that no monitoring takes place in areas where members of the public have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
• Only authorized personnel will have access to the system’s controls.
• The reception equipment will be monitored and controlled in a secure location by authorized personnel. 
• The recorded images will be temporarily stored on a secure storage device, accessible by only authorized personnel.
• Recorded images that are required for evidentiary purposes or if the personal information is used to make a decision that directly affects that individual will be retained for 1 year.  Video images that are not required will be destroyed within a 60 day period.  The images retained will be preserved on a computer disk and stored in the Exhibit Control Section.  Access to this area is restricted to limited personnel and only authorized personnel will have access to the disk.
• Departmental polices, and operational procedures are in place to ensure the security and the management of personal information in the care and control of the Department, under any circumstances, are in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 
• A public notification, advising the public that CCTV will be in effect during this event will be delivered via a media release.

Victoria Police Department is aware of the mandate of the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner and of the concerns that have been expressed over the deployment of CCTV in public spaces. The Privacy Commissioner has been notified that CCTV will be operating and has no objections with its use for this event.

VicPD will have almost 200 officers and support staff working to ensure the safety of the public.

Public Safety is everyone’s responsibility and VicPD wants to emphasize that no alcohol is permitted around the inner harbour. The public are encouraged to come down and enjoy the activities without drinking.

VicPD need’s the public’s assistance in respecting the liquor laws so that this event can continue in the years to come. Many cities have had to cancel similar events in the issues of public safety.

Under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act (LCLA) alcohol can only be transported from a lawful point of purchase to a lawful point of consumption.

VicPD officers will still be searching individuals for alcohol in an effort to maintain public order and safety, it is recognized that any search must be reasonable and authorized by law or statute, in this case that authority is found under the criminal code or the Liquor Control and Licensing Act. (LCLA)

The LCLA allows for the seizure or destruction of liquor at the scene if it is being possessed for an unlawful purpose.

VicPD will be assisting BC Transit again this year in ensuring that their buses remain a safe mode of transportation. If they encounter problems with patrons then police will assist them in removing those parties and searching them where appropriate.

Violation ticket fines for offences under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act were introduced in 1986, and a new fine was added for minors using false identification to purchase liquor in 2007. The government has reviewed the fine levels, which have remained unchanged since their introduction, and new fine levels have been set.

The new fine levels will result in violation ticket fine amounts matching or exceeding fine amounts from other provinces and allow BC to take a leadership role nationally regarding appropriate fine levels.

They are expected to provide a strong deterrent effect to street level disorder, and to better reflect the serious public safety consequences of liquor offences.

Effective January 1, 2010, ticket violation fine amounts for offences under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act are as follows:

LCA Searches in General:

“S. 67 (1) A peace officer who, on reasonable and probable grounds, believes that liquor is, anywhere or on anyone, unlawfully possessed or kept, or possessed or
kept for unlawful purposes may, subject to subsection (2), enter or search, or both, for the liquor where the peace officer suspects it to be, and may seize and remove liquor found and the packages in which it is kept.

 (2) For the purposes of this section, a peace officer may without a warrant
(a) search a person, and
(b) enter or search, or both, anywhere except a residence.

(3) A person commits an offence if the person
(a) obstructs or attempts to obstruct an entry or search by a peace officer under this section, or
(b) refuses or fails to admit immediately a peace officer demanding entry anywhere under this section.

S. 70 (1) If liquor is found by an officer or peace officer under circumstances that satisfy the officer that it is being possessed or kept contrary to this Act or the regulations, the officer or peace officer may immediately seize and remove the
liquor and packages containing it and
(a) may retain the liquor and packages to be dealt with under this Act, or
(b) may immediately destroy the liquor and packages.