OPP Admits Officer Misapplied Law in Smiths Falls Incident #FTP #FilmThePolice

(SMITHS FALLS, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is aware of a video showing an officer responding to a request from restaurant staff to remove an individual who was filming inside their business.

In Ontario under the Trespass to Property Act, property owners or those responsible for a property have the legal right to ask someone to leave if they are doing something that is considered prohibited. The owner or person in charge of the property is responsible for deciding what is prohibited. If the individual refuses to leave when asked, they may be trespassing. In that case, the owner or occupier can call the police to help remove the person from the property.

We acknowledge that the officer’s response in the video does not align with the provisions of the Trespass to Property Act.

The incident is being reviewed and addressed internally to reinforce both appropriate conduct and application of the law. We remain committed to supporting our members with ongoing training and guidance to help ensure responses reflect legal standards and the professionalism we expect from our officers.

The OPP values the trust placed in us by the public and remains committed to respectful, lawful and informed interactions across all communities we serve.

Regarding the original call for service at the location, the OPP did conduct an initial investigation. The matter has now been referred to the Canada Border Services Agency.

Editor’s Note: Readers are encourged to search for “Smith Falls OPP Video” to see some of the history of this detachment.

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