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The security of the transit systems of Greater Gatineau and Ottawa is a priority for the Société de transport de l’Outaouais and OC Transpo. Indeed, both public transit operators wish to alert the public and transit riders to potential threats to public security.
This initiative is made possible through the Transit-Secure Contribution Program, funded by Transport Canada in six major urban centres across Canada.
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The Société de transport de l’Outaouais and OC Transpo are constantly at work to ensure and enforce the security of drivers, transit riders and the general public on both public transit systems.
Security measures on the OC Transpo network
To ensure the security measures of the Transit Secure Program, OC Transpo constantly maintains an array of substantial resources mto ensure the security of its transit riders. Security personnel is on duty 24 hours a day. Among them, security officers who are responsible for making sure passengers pay their fares, communications officers who constantly monitor surveillance cameras and special constables and supervisors whose role is to keep a constant watch over OC Transpo property, vehicles and facilities.
Security measures at STO
As for the STO, several existing measures have recently been reinforced to ensure better preparedness in the case an emergency situation should occur.
- All security, communication and contingency plans have been updated, refined and adapted to help us respond to any emergency situation;
- Direct telephone links have been established with the region’s police services and first respondents to reduce response time to a minimum in the case where we would be dealing with an emergency situation;
- Communication systems between drivers, front line management (supervisors, dispatchers and regulators) and the operations nerve centre have been enhanced;
- All employees have received proper training in their respective areas of responsibility to help maintain public security. Front line management personnel have also received extensive training in responding to emergencies as they are likely to be the first to be called into action, should a potential problem occur.
What unusual situations we should be watching for?
Although the chance of such situations occuring is unlikely, we urge you to be alert to any unusual situation.
- A suspicious package left unattended in a bus, near a bus stop or in a transit shelter;
- A package, bag or other carry-on baggage left unattended at some distance or purposely left out of the way;
- A package carrying unusual items such as batteries, electrical wires or containers;
- A jittery or nervous individual loitering near a transit shelter or whose behaviour on board a bus appears suspicious, abnormal or out of the ordinary;
- An individual taking photos or pictures in a location that has no particular interest, drawing maps or sketches, taking notes or wandering in the same location for an unusually long time;
- An unexpected detour of your bus from its regular transit route, unannounced by your driver or an official notice from the operator of the transit system.
Adapted from the brochure « Sensibilisation à la sécurité du transport en commun », OC Transpo, March 2007.
What is the role of transit riders and the general public?
All public bodies need to be able to count on the general public to ensure the security of their environment, and public transit operators are no exception, which is why the public and transit riders are invited to take an active participation in contributing to ensure public security by staying alert and by paying attention to what is going on around them when they are using public transit services.
Security is everyone’s business. And above all, it is teamwork!
If you are a regular public transit rider, you know when things are right. You likely see the same faces every day. You may even know your driver, you know your bus stop and the route your bus follows on its regular schedule. You also know how long it takes to travel from your point of boarding to your destination.
If you are alert and pay attention to what is going on around you, you will surely be able to notice an unusual situation or a suspicious behaviour if you see one. Then, this is when you will be asked to call 310-2828.
In the normal course of our daily activity, we all have a habit of repeating the samemoves, of going to the same places, of leaving the house at approximately the same time every morning and coming back at more or less the same time at the end of the day. Unusual situations are precisely that... situations that are out of the ordinary.
If you are witness to an unusual behaviour or to suspicious activity, do not hesitate. Call 310-2828.
Help us keep a watchful eye on our transit systems. We are not asking that you intervene or that you get involved in a situation. All we ask of you is that you call for help is you happen to see a suspicious activity going on. Once again, simply call this number: 310-2828.
What you must not do.
We do not want you to put your own personal safety at risk nor that of the people around you. We are not asking you to act as a security officer.
When faced with an unusual situation or when in the presence of a suspicious package:
- Do not get involved;
- Do not approach a suspicious package or individual;
- Do not call out to these individuals and do not let them know that you are suspecting them.
What you must do.
- Remember that the priority remains your personal safety and that of those around you.
- Call 310-2828 or tell your driver or another public transit employee of your concern or suspicion;
- In the case of a suspicious package, try and remember the exact moment when you noticed the package (time. location along your route or buildings nearby). If you had a chance to see the individual who left the package behind, try and make a mental note of the individual’s features;
- Be a silent witness to the actions or behaviour of the suspicious individual. Try and remember as much as you can of the individual’s personal features which would help the police identify him at a later date (gender, race, age, height, weight, colour of eyes and hair, distinctive marks or traits, clothing, etc.) All relevant information can be useful.
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