London Drugs discusses riot review
Posted Sep 2, 2011 08:02:18 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Police surveillance cameras, instant riot courts, and an effective mounted horse and dog squad — those are three parts of the Stanley Cup riot review that stand out for the head of London Drugs.
President and CEO Wynne Powell’s Granville store was trashed the night of the riot. As a former volunteer firefighter, he says he understands the need to establish leadership in tough situations.
The riot report mentions it was difficult to get experienced personnel to the right point at the right time. “If the authorities are dressed appropriately, that allows us — the public — to recognize that’s a person of authority and [we should] be listening to that person. It should be an instantaneous identification,” he says.
He tells us another aspects his company was concerned about was the ability to get people in front of a judge and dealt with. “So they know that this is not a society-accepted behaviour and the report’s recommending that the attorney general establish a court specifically for rioters.”
Powell is also encouraged by the recommendation that police have their own closed-circuit cameras. “When the police have their own cameras, all they have to do is go to court and say it’s a police camera.”
He’s also interested in a recommendation about police using social media. “We’ve heard that some in Britain feel that the social media perhaps contributed to the riot problems Here’s this report, turning it into a creative solution — let’s use the power of social media to the benefit of the public and the police.”
He says a few London Drugs staff members are still receiving professional help from the trauma they experienced on riot night.
