Safer communities and neighborhoods (SCAN) program

Are you worried about illegal drugs, alcohol, prostitution, or other illegal activities in your neighbourhood or on property you own? The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) program gives you a way to safely report your concerns.

• Producing, selling, or using illegal drugs
• Prostitution
• Unlawful sale or consumption of alcohol
• Unlawful activities linked to or promoting organized crime
• Child sexual abuse/exploitation
• Unlawful gaming activities
• Possession of illegal firearms or explosives

Common signs of illegal activity:

• Frequent visitors at all hours of the day and night
• Frequent late-night activity
• Windows blackened or curtains always drawn
• Visitors with expensive vehicles
• Unfriendly people who seem secretive about their activities
• People watching cars suspiciously as they pass by
• Extensive investment in home security
• Garbage that contains numerous bottles and containers, particularly chemical containers
• Neglected property and yard

Once you file a confidential complaint with SCAN, and there is enough evidence to support it, an investigation is launched.
 
SCAN investigators will first try to resolve the issue through informal actions, such as a warning letter to the property owner.
 
The SCAN program can also order property owners to remove barricades that cause public safety concerns or exceed reasonable security measures.
 
The last resort is formal action, such as a community safety order, which can shut the building down for up to 90 days.
 
The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act is not criminal legislation. Rather, it provides a civil process to shut down properties where these illegal activities are taking place.

You will have to give your name for the purposes of the investigation. However, the process is confidential. That means your name will never be revealed. In addition, SCAN members deal with all court proceedings that may result from the complaint. Your privacy is assured throughout this process.