They stroll the streets and alleys adorned in their bright yellow security jackets – but they’re not Police Officers, they’re members of a private security firm hired to patrol the neighbourhood. Despite their mandate from the local business association that hired them, they have absolutely no legal authority, cannot lawfully touch another person, ask them questions, ask them for identification, or ask them to ‘move along’ when on public property. But you see, around here the law might as well be written on wet toilet paper if you don’t look like the sort of person that’s contributing to the neighbourhood’s ‘new look’. That would be why private security personnel are able to walk the streets as if they’re Police Officers and enforce ‘rules’ that are in complete violation of the Charter rights of others.

Now, some of you might view this subject as mildly unimportant, but it is anything but. If, in a bad part of town that is in the midst of gentrification, the homeless and impoverished can be ‘handled’ by private security personnel, what’s next? Better yet, who’s next?

The Vancouver Police Department exists for a reason, and the outsourcing of security by local business associations is, in truth, a massively dangerous precedent. What is even more concerning is that the authorities turn a blind eye to it and, at times, even capitalize on it.