SCAN obtains a Community Safety Order for prostitution in a massage parlor

October 25, 2013

Calgary… A problem commercial property operating as a massage parlor in Calgary’s Dover neighbourhood will be subject to a Community Safety Order (CSO) following a collaborative investigation between the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit (SCAN). The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams’ (ALERT) SCAN unit applied to the Court for a 30 day closure order on October 25, 2013. The order was granted and will take effect on October 28, 2013. The one year order ceases to have effect on October 25, 2014.

The commercial property located at 3155 – 34 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta will be closed for 30 days from use and occupation. After the 30 days, while this order continues to be in effect, the owner must get written approval from the SCAN unit before renting out the property to a tenant. The commercial property owners cannot lease the property to any massage business or businesses whose primary purpose is massage.

If the conditions of the CSO are not met, further legal action will be taken by SCAN, including applying to the courts to close the property again.

Throughout the investigation, SCAN members worked closely with the CPS This property has been a problem for police for more than 10 years.

While the police deal with criminal complaints against people, SCAN investigators use civil legislation to target problem properties around the province used for illegal purposes such as prostitution, drug use and drug trafficking, and gang activity.

“If you can imagine, there was a business operating as a daycare 100 feet from this massage parlor where prostitution was taking place. This is the first CSO granted in Alberta and likely Canada addressing the ongoing problem of businesses registered as massage parlors performing acts of prostitution” stated Investigator Stuart.

Between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, the public submitted 305 complaints regarding problem properties province-wide, of which SCAN resolved 268. This includes seven Community Safety Orders levied against problem properties.

Made up of Alberta Sheriffs, SCAN is an ALERT team established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to tackle serious and organized crime. Nearly 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT. 

Albertans who suspect a property in their neighbourhood is being used for illegal activity should contact SCAN toll-free at 1-866-960-7226 (SCAN) or online at www.scan.alberta.ca. All complaints are confidential. Concerned citizens should never investigate these properties on their own.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Mike Letourneau
SCAN – Calgary
ALERT | Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams
Phone: 403-333-0595