Business owners complain about inadequate police action against extortion attempts.
Rebellious Rant:
The Union of Quebec Bar Owners (UTBQ) is screaming for help, shouting about the alarming increase in criminal activities that they're grappling with. They're pleading to the Legault government and the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) to speak up against this growing menace.
"For over two years now, Quebec bar owners and other entrepreneurs have been subjected to intimidation, shakedowns, bomb threats, and gunfire," the UTBQ's letter to François Legault, Minister of Public Security François Bonnardel, and SPVM Director Fady Dagher blastingly states.
UTBQ founder Peter Sergakis exclaims in the letter that "after a brief lull, we're witnessing a sovereign rise in brutality that's heavily impacting licensed establishments in the Greater Montreal area."
The organization, which champions the rights of bar and resto-bar owners in the province, deplores "a monumental failure of police and penal institutions" to protect its members.
"The clientele no longer feels safe, which results in a dwindling of revenue," writes Mr. Sergakis. "The abandonment of bar owners by the authorities is so blatant and galling that insurers are fleeing the industry, and when they don't, they jack up premiums astronomically."
Extortion
On the airwaves of 98.5 FM with Patrick Lagacé, the businessman also slams the police for their inadequacy in safeguarding bar owners and restaurateurs from extortion attempts. He outlines the process by which criminal syndicates can demand exorbitant sums from owners to ensure the safety of their business, with the specter of retribution if they balk at paying.
The office of Quebec Minister of Public Security François Bonnardel has confirmed that it has received Mr. Sergakis' correspondence. "We get it, we understand the worries of bar owners," the office wrote in an email to Le Devoir. "The Minister has also expressed similar concerns. We will respond to his letter shortly."
The SPVM has proposed a sit-down with Mr. Sergakis "to chat about the situation," the police department says in an email. "The SPVM is throwing everything it's got at combating extortion. We're reiterating the significance of reporting threats to the police if one is a victim."
Noteworthy
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In a document dated March 27, Minister France-Élaine Duranceau admitted that the new method would put them at a disadvantage. The government is here to protect Quebec bar owners, Bonnardel retorts.
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Enrichment Details:- The Montreal Police Service is vigorously investigating a string of violent crimes and extortion cases targeting bars and restaurants, which appear to be connected and involve organized crime networks. The city's organized crime squad is working tirelessly to dismantle the criminal operations responsible[1].- Police records suggest an intensified investigative response, with about 20 reported incidents. This indicates a focused effort to curb the violence and intimidation tactics used against business owners[1].- The president of the union representing Quebec bar owners has publicly slammed the provincial government for insufficient efforts to combat extortion and organized crime[1].- Quebec’s Minister of Public Security has acknowledged the concerns of bar owners, signaling awareness at the government level and a willingness to address these security issues, though details of the response have not been specified in the available information[2].- Crime rates, including violent crimes, are on the rise in Quebec and across Canada, with a significant portion of crimes going unreported. This general trend has likely contributed to the increased vulnerability of businesses such as bars in Montreal to criminal activity[5].
- The Union of Quebec Bar Owners (UTBQ) and Peter Sergakis, its founder, have voiced concerns about the rising instances of crime, extortion, and intimidation in the business sector, particularly in bars and restaurants, highlighting a need for political action and a more robust response from the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) and the government.
- Amidst a backdrop of increasing general-news issues like crime and justice, the Montreal Police Service is intensifying its investigative efforts into a series of violent crimes and extortion cases targeting the city's bars and restaurants, suggesting a connection to organized crime networks, as the police aim to dismantle the operations and curb the use of violent tactics against business owners.
