Broadcast Time: 2:00 pm Date: October 12, 2023
With the many global events currently unfolding, the Sarnia Police Service is aware that there have been some calling for international civil unrest this upcoming weekend.
The Service continues to work with federal, provincial and municipal law enforcement partners to ensure coordination and information sharing.
We want to remind every member of the community who is or plans on holding vigils, protests and/or demonstrations of the following:
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees certain rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly.
Section 2 of the Charter states that everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
- freedom of conscience and religion;
- freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
- freedom of peaceful assembly; and
- freedom of peaceful association.
These Rights Are Not Without Limits:
The Supreme Court has recognized that “freedom of expression does not extend to protect threats of violence or acts of violence. It would not protect the destruction of property, assaults, or other clearly unlawful conduct.”
The Sarnia Police Service will not tolerate any form of hate and will pursue any alleged or suspected incidents of hate crime or hate motivated behaviour in our city.
For emergency assistance, call 9-1-1.
You can also call our non-emergency number at 519-344-8861 for the following:
- When a crime has occurred that requires police but the crime is not currently in progress, there is no immediate threat to public safety or property, and there are no bodily injuries;
- To make a report;
- For police information/advice; and/or
- To reach any member of the Sarnia Police Service (SPS)
To provide anonymous information, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Derek Davis
Chief of Police
Tel: 519-344-8861