An intoxicated individual is yelling and disrupting patrons outside a store on property where a security guard is assigned. The individual refuses to leave despite repeated requests. What is the most appropriate next step for the security guard, given the Trespass to Property Act of Ontario?

Question: An intoxicated individual is yelling and disrupting patrons outside a store on property where a security guard is assigned. The individual refuses to leave despite repeated requests. What is the most appropriate next step for the security guard, given the Trespass to Property Act of Ontario?

Answer options:

• Physically remove the individual immediately, as they are creating a disturbance. ✅ Contact the police for assistance, as trespassing combined with disruptive behaviour may warrant police intervention.
• Issue a 'trespass notice' that legally bans the individual from the property for life.
• Ignore the individual, as their behaviour is not criminal.

Correct answer: Contact the police for assistance, as trespassing combined with disruptive behaviour may warrant police intervention.

Explanation: While a security guard can use reasonable force under the Trespass to Property Act to remove someone, an intoxicated and disruptive individual presents additional challenges. Contacting police is often the safest and most legally sound approach in such situations, allowing for professional handling of both the trespass and the public intoxication.