Photo Courtesy EGP Staff

By Tanner Smith

Enforcement Services

GPES reminds business owners of the “AGENT” program

Oct 1, 2024 | 2:57 PM

Grande Prairie Enforcement Services says it is encouraging business owners to sign up for the AGENT Program.

Enacted by the Alberta government in June of 2014, and implemented in the City of Grande Prairie in 2018; the program gives police, peace and bylaw officers additional powers to enforce the Trespass to Premises Act and Petty Trespass Act at private properties.

According to Enforcement Services, this program allows “law enabling officers to remove individuals they suspect of gang affiliations from participating businesses.”

The program also allows officers to act as “agents” of the participating local businesses, “helping to lay charges and get convictions for trespassers,” and “eject or ban any patrons on behalf of the business owner.”

Since it was brought to Grande Prairie, 387 businesses have signed up.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

In a release, Peace Officer Sergeant Bransen Balfour said, “Having information provided to the AGENT program greatly reduces the amount of time an officer needs to spend tracking down a business owner to verify they want someone removed from their property, allowing their business to continue uninterrupted. These records are used on a daily basis to improve response time.”

Anyone wanting to be a part of the AGENT program will need to fill out a form on the city’s website and place an AGENT sticker at all main entrances of the business.

The AGENT form will then have to be emailed to es_contact@cityofgp.com, or to the front counter teller at either the GPES front counter or RCMP detachment.