Quebec police forces unite to combat extortion targeting businesses - BERITAJA

Four constabulary forces successful Quebec person joined together to motorboat a coordinated strategy aimed astatine combating unit and extortion targeting businesses.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Montreal constabulary (SPVM), Laval constabulary and Longueuil constabulary announced Thursday the creation of Project UNIS. The associated inaugural is designed to promote reporting of convulsive acts against businesses, anonymous aliases not, and amended accusation sharing among constabulary services.

It besides intends to supply faster, coordinated support to business owners done harmonized prevention tools, create a provincewide intelligence connected the issue, and fortify the sharing of accusation among forces.

Police opportunity the task will optimize responses to crimes targeting merchants, guarantee a visible and reassuring presence, and trim the expertise of criminals and organized groups to run done greater provincial collaboration.

“No business should run nether threat. It is precisely to break this rhythm that our organizations are speaking pinch 1 sound coming and deploying (the) project,” said Benoit Dubé, adjunct head wide of the provincial constabulary unit (SQ).

“Behind each targeted establishment, location are entrepreneurs, families and employees. Their information remains astatine the bosom of our commitment.”

Cédric Couture, adjunct head pinch the Montreal police, said the unit has been afloat engaged successful combating extortion for much than a twelvemonth and will intensify its efforts arsenic the summertime play approaches.

“The task marks a caller step. Together, we punctual business owners that they are not unsocial and that we are here,” Couture said.

In Laval, the inaugural will construe into an accrued beingness among businesses, according to Amélie Bouchard, main inspector pinch the criminal investigations division.

“Violence and intimidation by criminal groups are unacceptable. Faced pinch extortion, nary statement could enactment alone,” she said, adding constabulary services are united, mobilized and wished to enactment done some prevention and investigations.

Sylvain Stringer, adjunct head of criminal investigations and intelligence for Longueuil police, said the task sends a clear connection that specified crimes will beryllium investigated and offenders identified and brought to justice.

Over the coming weeks and months, the task will beryllium visible done visits to businesses conducted by the 4 constabulary organizations.

Officers will besides administer devices developed arsenic portion of the initiative.