How can Canada keep its malls safe?

As someone who runs a shopping centre in an urban market, I think it is very important to keep this incident in the isolated perspective that it deserves. These incidents are very rare, and millions of people walk through malls each day in Canada without incident.

by rubberduckmonkey 6/5/2012 4:18:35 PM
@rubberduckmoney: Have you ever had any security incidents? Is theft or violence a bigger concern?

by Chris Hannay 6/5/2012 4:19:28 PM
I'm not sure anything can be done which would eliminate all risks

by Dave Polansky 6/5/2012 4:25:46 PM
As someone who works security in a mall in an urban market, installing metal detectors is a non-starter. It's just not doable.

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:28:09 PM
Here's an interesting quote from Paul Waldie's story: “If you put metal detectors in your mall, the people who are your customers are going to say, ‘This place has got real big trouble, we are going to go somewhere else,’ ” said Mike Fenton, director of consulting and client support at Paragon Security, a Toronto-based company that provides security at 56 malls across Ontario.

Would installing metal detectors or searching bags just turn people away?

by Chris Hannay 6/5/2012 4:28:58 PM
@globeandmail adapt the method in Israel security and bag check at every mall entrance, this will keep malls safe.

by andythestar via twitter 6/5/2012 4:29:56 PM
This isn't Israel - threats aren't the same. People would not accept it.

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:36:56 PM
Notwithstanding the use of age restrictions in the US, teenagers seem to be victims, not perpetrators. Unswerving surveillance would seem to be the answer using facial recognition software to spot and stop known troublemakers in advance as one possibility. Couple that with strong warnings that "you are being watched and will be apprehended" and the deterrent level should be high without being intrusive.

by bobbyclobberobber 6/5/2012 4:37:03 PM
When I was living in Asia, security people do bag checks at the entrance as well.

by TS 6/5/2012 4:37:47 PM
Again, different climate (Asia). North American public would not accept it.

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:41:57 PM
Private Security - under qualified, underpaid and under trained.Wages in this sector is a 'race to the bottom'

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:42:00 PM
@bigcam99: Why do you think the North American public wouldn't accept bag checks?

by Chris Hannay 6/5/2012 4:42:29 PM
It would take alot of conditioning for them to accept it going to the mall. Airports are one thing, the mall another.

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:43:35 PM
Malls are public spaces open to anyone. I don't think there is any way to keep track of people who walk through those front doors unless we adopt airport-security like procedures. Such procedures are inefficient and a big waste of time because 99.9% of the people are just normal folks who are here to enjoy their shopping trips. It takes the fun out of shopping trips. The bigger issue is not the safety of malls but what is the root cause of such rampage. The mall is just a venue to take out this rampage. It could have happened anywhere at Eaton Centre, on a quiet tree-lined street in a quiet neighbourhood etc.

by Rene Descartes 6/5/2012 4:44:03 PM
Work in an office tower connected to mall as well as a downtown university campus. Just couldn't see how bag checks would be done

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:46:28 PM
Regarding Paul Waldie's quote and people saying that North America is different and North Americans won't just accept bag checks and metal detectors, maybe it's time for 1st world countries like Canada to start accepting the fact that no place in this world can be 100% safe anymore. Public safety should always come first and if there are measures that can be taken to prevent incidents like the Eaton Centre shooting, then why not implement them? It's just my opinion though.

by TS 6/5/2012 4:48:26 PM
@TS I think you're getting at the big debate on public safety: is it about security or about deeper issues?

by Chris Hannay 6/5/2012 4:49:24 PM
@TS - It was a random event. Doubt very much that even a review of video footage, with 20/20 hindsight would give any hint of what was to take place

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:51:23 PM
Some cities have curfews for young people. For example, those under 16 years old couldn't walk around a mall without adult accompaniment on Friday or Saturday nights. Is that a good idea?

by Chris Hannay 6/5/2012 4:56:41 PM
Problem is that for most mall operators - security is a cost. They want to keep costs down. They want their staffs to 'observe and report' rather than intervene. They don't want the bad publicity if security misreads a situation.

by bigcam99 6/5/2012 4:59:22 PM