Public Conduct Policy and Corporate Trespass to Property Procedures

Public Conduct Policy

Approved By: City Council
Category: General Administration
Approval Date: December 5, 2018
Effective Date: December 5, 2018
Revision Approved by: City Clerk
Revision Date: August 13, 2019

Policy Statement

The City of Ottawa aims to provide exemplary services to all members of the public and to address service requests and complaints equitably, comprehensively and in a timely manner, while promoting a respectful, tolerant and harassment-free workplace between Members of Council, officers and employees of the corporation, and the public. In order to achieve these objectives, unreasonable behaviour and/or frivolous and vexatious complaints or requests from some members of the public who require services or access City premises may need to be limited in a manner that is clear, consistent, reasonable, and proportional to the individual’s action(s).

Purpose

This policy contributes to the City’s objective of dealing with all residents in ways that are consistent and fair while acknowledging that there may be a need to protect staff, Members of Council and residents of the City of Ottawa from unreasonable behaviour and frivolous and/or vexatious actions.

Some situations arising from unreasonable behaviour may cause concern for the reasonable safety of other individuals on City premises. Other situations may compromise the enjoyment of City facilities for all users. Vexatious, frivolous and/or unreasonably persistent requests may consume a disproportionate amount of Member and/or staff time and resources and can compromise their ability to provide assistance or deliver good customer service efficiently and effectively. Such requests may also impede staff from attending to other essential issues. These situations and requests may require the City to put restrictions on the contact that some individuals have with the City.

This policy is not intended to deal with generally difficult clients and individuals. It applies to members of the public whose behaviours and actions are unreasonable, frivolous and/or vexatious. Determining whether particular behaviours or actions are unreasonable, frivolous or vexatious can be a flexible balancing exercise that requires all circumstances of a particular case to be taken into account. In many cases, the key question is whether the behaviours or actions are likely to cause distress, disruption or irritation, without proper or justified cause.

The decision to classify someone’s behaviour as unreasonable, or to classify a request as

vexatious or frivolous, could have serious consequences for the individual, including restricting their access to Members, City staff, services and/or property. As such, this policy provides clear examples of behaviours and actions, as well as clear steps for staff to follow. Any restrictions made under this policy and the related Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures are dependent on particular circumstances, and there is an opportunity for the affected individual to have any restrictions reviewed and/or appealed.

Application

This policy, and the related Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures, are to be implemented if behaviours or requests from an individual are determined to be unreasonable, frivolous and/or vexatious as defined herein. The following behaviours or requests may take place in circumstances including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

• Public meetings;
• Written communication;
• Telephone communication;
• In-person communication;
• Electronic communication, including email and social media; and/or
• Interactions at City property, parks or facilities.

Examples of Unreasonable Behaviour

Examples of what might be considered unreasonable behaviour are shown below. The list is not exhaustive, nor does one single feature on its own necessarily imply that the person will be considered as being in this category:

• Refusing to specify the grounds of a complaint, despite offers of assistance;
• Changing the basis of the complaint/request as the matter proceeds;
• Denying or changing statements made at an earlier stage;
• Covertly recording meetings and conversations;
• Submitting falsified documents from themselves or others;
• Making excessive demands on the time and resources of staff with lengthy phone calls, emails to numerous staff, or detailed letters every few days, and expecting immediate responses;
• Refusing to accept the decision/repeatedly arguing points with no new evidence;
• Persistently approaching the Corporation through different routes about the same issue;
• Causing distress to staff, which could include use of hostile, abusive or offensive language, or an unreasonable fixation on an individual member of staff;
• Making unjustified complaints about staff who are trying to deal with the issues, and seeking to have them replaced;
• Engaging in aggressive, disrespectful or intimidating behaviour, bullying, harassment or using coarse language while accessing a City program, service, program, event or facility; and/or
• Loitering, causing a disturbance or acting under the influence of drugs and alcohol while attending City premises.

Examples of Vexatious or Frivolous Requests

Examples of what might be considered to be vexatious or frivolous are provided below. The list is not exhaustive, and for a request to be considered as vexatious or frivolous it is likely that more than one of the examples is relevant:

• Submission of obsessive requests with very high volume and frequency of correspondence;
• Requests for information the requester has already seen, or clear intention to reopen issues that have already been considered;
• Where complying with the request would impose significant burden on the Corporation in terms of expense, and negatively impact the ability to provide service to others;
• Where the requester states that the request is actually meant to cause maximum inconvenience, disruption or annoyance;
• Where the request lacks any serious purpose or value. An apparent lack of value would not usually be enough on its own to make a request vexatious, but may when considered with other examples; and/or
• Harassing the Corporation, which could include very high volume and frequency of correspondence, or mingling requests with accusations and complaints.

Furthermore, a pattern of conduct occurs when on several occasions an individual engages in one or more of the following:

1. Brings complaints concerning an issues that staff have already investigated and concluded;
2. Brings complaints concerning an issue that is substantially similar to an issue that staff have previously investigated and concluded and no new information is being introduced; and/or
3. Engages in unreasonable conduct which is abusive of the request for services or complaints process, including but not limited to the examples set out under the Application section of this policy.

This policy is meant to complement, not replace, the Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Policy or Program, the Corporate Complaints Handling Policy and Procedures, the Employee Code of Conduct and the Code of Conduct for Members of Council.

Policy Requirements

The decision to classify someone’s behaviour as unreasonable, or to classify a request or complaint as frivolous and vexatious, could have serious consequences for the individual, including restricting his or her access to City services and staff.

The decision may be as a result of a repeated pattern of conduct when, on several occasions, a person engages in one or more behaviours or actions identified as unreasonable, frivolous and/or vexatious, or it may be a single significant incident that requires invocation of this policy.

If an incident presents an immediate threat, contact 9-1-1 and Corporate Security.

Responsibilities

All users of this policy are required to document the actions of the individual, and their own actions, in as much detail as possible.

Certain situations involving unreasonable behaviour on City property, parks or facilities (with the exception of the Ottawa Police Service and Transportation Services department property) may require immediate action by way of a Trespass Notice, after all possible alternative measures are considered and/or implemented. In such cases, reference should be made to responsibilities set out in the Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures, including the “Guidelines for Issuing a Trespass to Property Notice” set out in Appendix A of the Procedures.

For situations involving unreasonable behaviour that does not require such immediate action, as well as those circumstances that involve frivolous and vexatious requests, specific responsibilities include as follows:

Employees

• If a staff member experiences or witnesses any incident or behaviour that makes the staff member uncomfortable or unsafe, the staff member should report the matter to their Supervisor, Manager or Director, providing any supporting material;
• If a staff member believes that a request or a complaint is unreasonable, frivolous or vexatious, the staff member should consult with their Supervisor, Manager or Director, providing any supporting material.
• Staff are responsible for advising their Supervisor, Manager or Director of the steps that have been taken to resolve the issue, which may include the following:
  • Length of time that staff have been in contact with the individual and the history of interactions;
  • Amount of correspondence that has been exchanged with the individual;
  • Number of requests that the individual has brought and the status of each;
  • Nature of the individual’s behaviour and the amount of time that has been consumed; and
  • Maintaining detailed records of staff interactions with individuals in order to justify any actions taken to restrict the individual’s access to staff or services.
• If applicable, ensure compliance with any relevant duties and procedures outlined in the Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures.

Managers and Directors

• Review the information provided by staff and determine if the individual’s behaviour warrants the application of restriction(s);
• Work with staff to determine appropriate restriction(s), including how to inform the individual of the restriction(s);
• Determine a proposed review date for removing, modifying or continuing the restriction(s);
• Meet with the General Manager and outline the situation, including the proposed restriction(s) and review date; and
• If applicable, ensure compliance with any relevant duties and procedures outlined in the Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures.

General Managers

• Make the determination to classify an individual’s behaviour as unreasonable or to classify a request as frivolous and/or vexatious;
• Determine the restriction(s) to be imposed on the individual and communicate these restrictions to the individual;
• Maintain all documentation related to the review and determination of restriction(s);
• Conduct reviews of any restriction(s) and communicate the outcome to the individual; and
• Advise the City Solicitor in writing when restriction(s) are placed on an individual under the policy, providing a copy of the notice given to the individual as well as any additional information requested by the City Solicitor and/or the City Clerk in the event of an appeal; and
• If applicable, ensure compliance with any relevant duties and procedures outlined in the Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures.

Members of Council

• Consult with the City Clerk, City Solicitor and the Integrity Commissioner regarding cases of unreasonable behaviour and/or frivolous and vexatious action that the Member wishes to address, as described in this policy. Upon being consulted by a Member of Council, the Integrity Commissioner shall provide advice to the Member respecting any proposed action under this policy as it relates to the Member’s obligations under the Code of Conduct for Members of Council.
• The appeal mechanism for any restriction(s) placed on an individual through the procedure for Members of Council is the Integrity Commissioner.

City Solicitor

• Track and monitor the use of the policy, in consultation with the Corporate Security Branch on matters relating to the Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures;
• Develop and provide any templates, forms and communications to assist in implementing this policy;
• Report on an annual basis on the use of the policy/exercise of authority by the General Managers,City Clerk and City Solicitor under the policy; 
• In the event of an appeal, provide to the City Clerk a copy of the notice given to the individual as well as any additional information requested; and
• If applicable, ensure compliance with any relevant duties and procedures outlined in the Corporate Trespass to Property-Procedures

City Clerk

• Review the policy every two years through the City's regular governance reviews;
• Review any appeals and confirm, rescind or amend the restrictions
• If applicable, ensure compliance with any relevant duties and procedures outlined in the Corporate Trespass to Property - Procedures

Monitoring/Contraventions

Course of Action

1. Information Review: Based on the information provided by staff, managers and directors, a review shall be conducted by the General Manager to determine if an individual’s behaviour warrants the application of restriction. Each case should be considered on an individual basis. This determination, or any restrictions, shall consider the specific circumstances of the matter as well as the following:

a. The individual’s personal circumstances, level of competency, literary skills, etc. that may be known to staff;
b. If applicable, whether the request or complaint has been dealt with properly and in line with the relevant procedures and statutory guidelines;
c. If applicable, whether staff have made reasonable efforts to satisfy or resolve the request or complaint;
d. If applicable, whether the individual is presenting new material or information about the situation or making a new request or complaint.

2. Notice: Upon determination that an individual’s behaviour is unreasonable or to classify a request or complaint as frivolous or vexatious, and depending on the severity of the incident, the General Manager shall:

a. Send a letter of warning to the individual indicating that the behaviour/requests are a violation of this policy and that restrictions may be imposed should they continue; or

b. Send a letter of notification to the individual indicating that the matter has been reviewed and that restrictions are to be imposed. This letter shall include a summary of the findings of the General Manager’s review, including as follows:

i. a summary of the matter which has led to the restrictions;
ii. a summary of the interactions with the individual;
iii. a description of the restrictions that are to be applied; and
iv. the rationale for applying the restrictions.

3. Potential Restrictions: Restrictions should be tailored to deal with the individual circumstances. Actions available to the General Managers to restrict the individual may include, but are not limited, to any one or combination of the following:

a. Limiting the individual’s correspondence with staff to a particular format, time or duration;
b. Limiting the individual to a particular point of contact;
c. Requiring any face-to-face interactions between the individual and staff to take place in the presence of another staff member;
d. Requiring the individual to make contact with the City only through a third party, such as a solicitor or counsellor;
e. Limiting or regulating the individual’s use of City services;
f. Refusing the individual access to a City facility except by appointment or specific permission;
g. Requiring that the individual produce full disclosure of documentation or information before staff will further investigate a complaint;
h. Instructing staff not to respond to further correspondence from the individual regarding the complaint or a substantially similar issue;
i. Informing the individual that further contact on the matter will not be acknowledged or replied to;
j. Closing the complaint or request for service;
k. Instructing staff not to investigate any complaints regarding an issue that has already been investigated or which is substantially similar to an issue that has already been investigated;
l. Instructing staff to severely reduce or completely cease responses to further complaints or request and correspondence from the individual;
m. Pursuing legal action including issuance of a Notice of Trespass in accordance with the Corporate Trespass to Property Procedures. All staff who have the authority to issue notices in accordance with the Procedures are required to consider and/or implement all possible alternative measures before issuing a Trespass to Property Notice.

4. Restriction Review: The letter of notification shall advise of a review date for the matter, depending on the severity of the incident and the nature of the matter and restriction/service provided. Generally, all cases where this policy is applied should be reviewed every three months or six months and not more than 12 months after the service change or restriction was initially imposed or continued/upheld.

The affected individual will be invited to participate in the review process by providing a written submission or by way of another method as appropriate in the circumstances, unless it is determined that this invitation will provoke a negative response from the individual.

Prior to the review date, staff and the General Manager shall meet and review the situation and determine if the restrictions should continue. During this review, consideration shall be given to factors such as:

• Whether the individual has had any contact with the City during the restriction period;
• The individual’s conduct during the restriction period;
• Any information/arguments put forward by the individual for review;
• The effect that continuing the restriction may have on the individual; and
• Any other information that may be relevant in the circumstances.

The individual shall be informed of the outcome of the review by way of letter within 10 business days of completion of the review and be given another date for review if any restrictions remain.

Appeals

1. The individual shall have the ability to appeal any decision to impose restrictions by contacting the City Clerk in writing within 10 business days from the date the restriction was issued. The City Clerk shall receive all relevant information relating to the matter from the City Solicitor and General Manager as required.  The City Clerk shall review all relevant information along with the appeal within 10 business days from the date the appeal was received and may confirm, rescind or amend the restrictions. The City Clerk's decision is final.
2. In the event that the City Clerk has made the decision to impose restrictions, or has been involved in the decision of a General Manager to impose restrictions, the City Manager shall review all relevant information along with the appeal within 10 business days from the date the appeal was received and may confirm, rescind or amend the restrictions. The City Manager’s decision is final.
3. In the event that a Member of Council has made the decision to impose restrictions, the individual shall have the ability to appeal by contacting the Integrity Commissioner within 10 business days from the date the restriction was issued. The Integrity Commissioner shall review all relevant information along with the appeal within 10 business days from the date the appeal was received and may confirm, rescind or amend the restrictions. The Integrity Commissioner’s decision is final.
4. Requests for reviews of decisions made under the Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures shall be made in accordance with the review process set out in those Procedures.

   5. In the event that the issue cannot be resolved through this policy, the individual may submit a complaint to the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman.

Monitoring

This policy shall be reviewed every two years by the City Clerk as part of the City’s regular Governance Review process.

References

Code of Conduct for Members of Council
Corporate Complaints Handling Policy
Corporate Trespass to Property – Procedures
Council-Staff Relations Policy
Employee Code of Conduct
Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Policy

Definitions

“Vexatious” means that the complaint or request for service is initiated with the intent to embarrass or annoy the receipt, or is part of a pattern of conduct by the complaint of requestor that amounts to an abuse of the complaint process or request for service.

A “frivolous” complaint is one that has no serious purpose or value, about a matter so trivial or one so meritless on its face that investigation would be disproportionate in terms of time and cost.

“Unreasonable” behaviour involves conduct that is unacceptable in all circumstances – regardless of how stressed, angry or frustrated an individual is, because it unacceptably comprises the health, safety and security of staff, other service users or the individual themselves. Further, requests or complaints that are incomprehensible, inflammatory or based on conspiracy theories are also considered unreasonable.

Enquiries

City Solicitor
City of Ottawa
Telephone: 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401)

Approved By: City Council
Category: General Administration
Approval Date: December 5, 2018
Effective Date: December 5, 2018
Revision Approved by: City Clerk
Revision Date: August 13, 2019

Application

This Corporate Trespass to Property Procedure has been created to support the implementation of the City’s Public Conduct Policy.

This procedure is applicable to any individual on City property, parks or facilities, with the exception of the Ottawa Police Service and Transportation Services department property.

Procedure Description

Objective

The purpose of this procedure is to provide City staff clear direction and requirements regarding the issuance of Trespass to Property Notices.

Background and Process Overview

The City of Ottawa is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for everyone. The City owns or occupies a variety of different properties and buildings which members of the public or employees access. These premises are accessed for a variety of purposes, including work, recreation and cultural activities, learning, and for accessing municipal and other programs and services, along with furthering public discourse and participating in democratic processes and values protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The City has a general duty under the Occupiers’ Liability Act to take such care as in all the circumstances is reasonable to see that persons entering on its premises, and the property brought on the premises are reasonably safe. The City has further duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Criminal Code of Canada to address workplace violence and harassment.

One of the enforcement mechanisms [see Bracken v. Fort Erie (Town), 2017 ONCA 668 (CanLII), at para. 70, and cited in McLeod v. City of Brantford, 2018 ONSC 943 (CanLII) (Div. Crt) at para. 14] which the City may use to further its statutory and common law duties as owner and occupier of premises, as well as an employer of a workplace, to exclude persons from the premises is through the use of a Trespass to Property Notice in accordance with the Trespass to Property Act.

Individuals who fail to abide by City policies, including the Public Conduct Policy, or who otherwise engage in aggressive, disrespectful or intimidating behaviour, bullying, harassment, who use coarse language or engage in criminal behaviour while accessing a City program, service, event or facility may be refused service and asked to leave the premises immediately.

For non-violent incidents, issuance of a Trespass to Property Notice may be considered to prevent future reoccurrences.

For any incidents where acts of violence are imminent, or for incidents of a crime in progress, Ottawa Police shall be contacted immediately at 9-1-1.

Delegated staff members who can issue Trespass to Property Notices on behalf of their department are outlined in Appendix A.

Practices and Procedures

The following provides the steps to be taken when issuing a Trespass to Property Notice whether issued by a department or by Corporate Security.

1. Document the incident using the Incident Report – Corporate Security Form, within 72 hours of the incident occurring and submit to Corporate Security. Please provide all the information required in the Form and be as specific as possible.
2. The Department submitter will receive an acknowledgement along with a Case Number that should be kept for all future submissions.
3. Consult Appendix A of this Procedure to determine who can issue the Trespass to Property Notice.
4. If the Trespass to Property Notice is to be issued by Corporate Security, it will be issued in accordance with the guidelines as set out at Appendix A and the Trespass to Property Notice will be updated to the original incident file.
5. If the Notice is to be issued by a delegated departmental staff member (i.e. not by Corporate Security), send a copy of each Trespass to Property Notice once issued to Corporate Security (quoting the Case Number received when the Incident Report was submitted).
6. On a quarterly basis, Corporate Security will provide General Managers a list of all issued Trespass to Property Notices along with a list of those Trespass to Property Notices which are scheduled to expire within the following quarter.

Given the diverse range of services, resources and programming available at the City, the issuance of a Trespass to Property Notice in excess of five years will be limited and will be issued by the City Manager, or delegate.

Request for Review Process

Individuals who have received a written Trespass to Property Notice (Notices issued for period of 72 hours or longer) may request a formal review of same by submitting a request in writing to the attention of the Program Manager, Corporate Security within 10 business days from the date the Notice was issued. Verbal Notices (72 hours or less) are not subject to review.

Requests for Review may be submitted by email to pmcorsec@ottawa.ca or by mail to:

Program Manager, Corporate Security
101 Centrepointe Drive
Ottawa ON, K2G 5K7

All requests for a review received within the prescribed period shall be forwarded by the Program Manager, Corporate Security to the attention of the City Clerk along with a copy of the Trespass to Property Notice, the Incident Report, and any other documentation relevant to the Trespass to Property Notice. The City Clerk, or such authorized delegates as may be delegated in writing by the City Clerk, shall conduct a review of the Trespass to Property Notice.

A request for a review does not stay the operation of the Trespass to Property Notice.

The City Clerk, or delegate, as the case may be, may contact the individual requesting the review in order to obtain any further information deemed relevant for the review.

The City Clerk shall communicate a decision on the review to the Requester and to the Program Manager, Corporate Security within 10 business days of completion of the review.

In conducting a review, the City Clerk, or delegates, may uphold, modify, or withdraw all or part of the Trespass to Property Notice. This decision shall be final and binding.

Monitoring/Contraventions

Failure to complete all requirements outlined in this Corporate Trespass to Property procedure will be considered non-compliance and could lead to disciplinary action.

Definitions

In this Procedure, unless otherwise stated:

City premises include the buildings, and all adjacent municipal property, which is attached to the building, including but not limited to playgrounds, parking lots, and all parks, and all lands owned or occupied by the City.

Trespassing or trespass carries the same definition as used in Subsection 2(1) of the Trespass to Property Act R.S.O. 1990, c. T.21, as amended, as follows:

2 (1) Every person who is not acting under a right or authority conferred by law and who,

(a) without the express permission of the occupier, the proof of which rests on the defendant,

(i) enters on premises when entry is prohibited under this Act, or

(ii) engages in an activity on premises when the activity is prohibited under this Act; or

(b) does not leave the premises immediately after he or she is directed to do so by the occupier of the premises or a person authorized by the occupier,

is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $10,000.

Verbal Notice – a Trespass notice for a duration 72 hours or less.

Written Notice – a Trespass notice issued in writing for periods of more than 72 hours.

References

• City of Ottawa Public Conduct Policy
• City of Ottawa Violence and Harassment in the Workplace Program
• Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. T.21
• Occupiers' Liability Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.2
• Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1
• Criminal Code of Canada, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46
• Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11

Roles and Responsibilities

City Manager

• Issue Trespass to Property Notices for any period in excess of five years.

General Managers/Directors

• Communicate this procedure to all employees in their department and ensure ongoing compliance with all requirements outlined in this document.
• Delegate authority in writing for the issuance of Trespass to Property Notices to staff at their respective facilities.
• Receive and review the quarterly summary report, from Corporate Security, of all Trespass to Property Notices issued ensuring appropriate communication with relevant parties.

City Clerk

• Upon request, conduct all reviews involving the issuance of a Trespass to Property Notice and issue a written final decision to the review requestor within 10 business days of the review having been completed.
• When conducting a review, in addition to relevant factors to each case, consider all appropriate alternative measures that could be utilized before upholding, modifying or rescinding a Trespass to Property Notice to minimize negative impacts that may result from limitations to City services/programs/facilities.

City Solicitor

• In the event of an appeal, provide to the City Clerk a copy of the notice given to the individual as well as any additional information requested.

Delegated Staff Members and Facility Security Guards

• Before issuing a Trespass to Property Notice, consider all appropriate alternative measures that could be utilized before issuing a Trespass to Property Notice (see Appendix A for more details).
• If appropriate, issue Trespass to Property Notices as outlined in Appendix A: Guidelines for Issuing a Trespass to Property Notice.
• Document and submit all incidents of Trespass to Property Notice issuance to Corporate Security by completing an Incident Report – Corporate Security form within 72 hours of the incident.

Departmental Managers

• Ensure compliance with the procedures outlined in this document.
• Issue written Trespass to Property Notices as outlined in Appendix A: Guidelines for Issuing a Trespass to Property Notice.
• Document and submit all incidents of Trespass to Property Notice issuance to Corporate Security by completing an Incident Report – Corporate Security form within 72 hours of the incident. If the notice is not issued by Corporate Security, send a copy of each written Trespass to Property Notice once issued (quoting the case number received when the Incident Report was submitted) so it is added to the original file.

Corporate Security Branch

• Issue written Trespass to Property Notices as outlined in Appendix A: Guidelines for Issuing a Trespass to Property Notice.
• Review all Trespass to Property Notices and related incident reports submitted to Corporate Security for consistency, tracking and trending purposes.
• Maintain a centralized incident management database including information related to the issuance of Trespass to Property Notices.
• Provide a quarterly summary report of all Trespass to Property Notices issued for reconciliation, tracking and trend analysis purposes to impacted General Managers.

Manager, Security and Emergency Management

• Ensure compliance with the procedures outlined in this document.
• Issue written Trespass to Property Notices as outlined in Appendix A.
• Conduct an annual review of this Procedure in consultation with the City Clerk and City Solicitor.

All City Staff

• To ensure we all continue to work in a safe and respectful workplace, report any incident or behaviour that you experience, or witness, that makes you uncomfortable or unsafe to your manager/supervisor so that they can work with you to resolve the matter quickly.
• If the incident presents an immediate threat – contact 9-1-1 and Corporate Security.

Keywords

Notice
Property
Safety
Trespass
Violent

Enquiries

Should you have any questions regarding the requirements of this procedure, please contact Program Manager, Corporate Security at: 613-580-2580 or pmcorsec@ottawa.ca

Appendices

Appendix A – Guidelines for Issuing a Trespass to Property Notice:Guidelines outlining incident/behaviour types for which a Trespass to Property Notice may be issued (at the discretion of the issuer). If a decision is made to issue a Notice, the Table also identifies who can issue a Notice in accordance with how long the service or facility restriction (ban) will be in place.

Appendix B – Trespass to Property Notice is the corporate template for issuing all written Trespass to Property Notices.

Appendix A - Guidelines for Issuing a Trespass to Property Notice:

The following Table is provided as a guideline to support decision-making on next steps. Those directly involved in the situation, in consultation with their Supervisor/Manager (and Corporate Security, as applicable) will have discretion as to how best to handle situations on a case-by-case basis.

All staff who have the authority to issue notices, in accordance with this procedure, are required to consider and/or implement all possible alternative measures before issuing a Trespass to Property Notice. Examples of alternative measures to consider include:

• Service delivery through alternative means such as online or by phone.
• Implementing time of day restrictions and/or scheduled supervised visits to allow for access to City services without compromising safety and security.
• Whether programs/services are available at another location.

Due to the nature of incidents that precipitate the issuance of a Trespass Notice, two different formats are available:

Verbal Warnings:

Issued immediately by staff working at a facility and/or facility Security Guards. Verbal notices remain in effect for up to and including, 72 hours from the time of issuance. Verbal notices are not subject to review.

Written Notices:

Often issued retroactively, by Corporate Security or delegated City staff members. Written notices can be issued for a period of up to five years or more, and may be facility specific and/or city-wide. Where a mailing address is available to City staff, the written notice is delivered to the recipient via registered mail. When an address is not available, the physical notice is prepared and delivered by Corporate Security staff, security guards or delegated City staff, usually the next time the recipient is seen on the premises.