The OPP’s Project Safe Trade is coming to Orillia.
Orillia OPP will be dedicating two spots in the detachment parking lot on University Avenue where people who have made transactions online can meet up and make their exchanges.
“They feel a little safer doing the exchange in a police parking lot rather than at someone’s house,” explained Orillia OPP Const. Scott Williams. “If the person selling it has not such good intentions, they might not want to meet in a police parking lot.”
Orillia OPP has the signage ready to go but needs to wait until the frost is out of the ground before installing it. Williams expects Project Safe Trade to be available at the detachment sometime in April.
Orillia OPP initially requested funding from the Orillia Police Services Board to help with the cost of signage, but the board was told at its meeting this week that contribution was no longer needed.
Mayor Steve Clarke, chair of the board, suggested the city could contribute by promoting Project Safe Trade. He will be asking staff to look into that.
“I thought the concept was wonderfully simplistic and probably an effective thing to do,” he said. “It’s a wonderful idea, but without promotion, it might not be as meaningful.”
While meeting in a police parking lot to make an exchange is seen as a safer alternative, Williams had some advice to further ensure people’s safety.
“Any time you are doing a purchase online, it’s good to bring another person with you when you meet,” he said.
