SURREY, B.C. — The Surrey RCMP, together with the City of Surrey, B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association (BCRFA) and Restaurants Canada has launched the Inadmissible Patrons Program (IPP), which is designed to prevent violent criminal activity in and around licensed restaurants and bars.
“After seeing the success the Restaurant-Watch program had in significantly reducing gang violence in and around Vancouver restaurants, many of our members have been asking for similar programs in their municipalities,” says Mark von Schellwitz, VP of Restaurants Canada, Western Canada. “Restaurants Canada was a supporter of the Restaurant-Watch program since its inception and we similarly welcome the launch of the Inadmissible-Patrons Program in Surrey. We look forward to working with the City of Surrey and the RCMP to support its success.”
The IPP was developed by the Surrey RCMP Gang-Enforcement Team (SGET) in conjunction with local restaurant partners to protect the safety of patrons, staff and the general public by giving police the legal authority — through B.C. Trespass Act — to remove individuals deemed as “inadmissible patrons” from participating establishments.
Surrey’s new IPP is being rolled out with seven restaurants and bars participating in the initial launch. More will reportedly be added as the program grows.
“We applaud the Surrey RCMP in launching the Inadmissible Patrons Program,” says Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of BCRFA. “Vancouver’s Restaurant-Watch program had an immediate effect in sending a message to those involved in organized crime, drugs and gangs to ‘stay away — you are not welcome,’ making it safer for the patrons and workers of our industry.”
