AURORA, ON, – The Ontario government is providing $3.7 million over the next three years to the York Regional Police to help in three key areas to continue the province’s plan to help protect communities, support victims of crime and keep people safe. Funding is being allocated through: Ontario’s Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension (BCWA) Grant Program, the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing (POC-FLP) Grant program, and the province’s $208 million provincial investment into enhancing the 9-1-1 response program.
“York Regional Police welcomes the financial support of the province to address the issue of violent, repeat offenders who continue to commit crime while out on bail, as well as assisting us in expanding our targeted response to hate crime in our community,” said Chief Jim MacSween. “We know these issues are of concern to the community and we are committed to resolving them through funding these new programs.”
Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension (BCWA) Grant
Ontario is providing $2.4 million over the next three years to help prevent repeat and violent offenders from committing serious crimes while out on bail. This funding will be used in the Creation of dedicated bail compliance and warrant apprehension teams to manage offenders on probation, federal and provincial parole, and community supervision orders. These teams will be able to monitor, locate and charge offenders who are not in compliance.
The funding will also help with training and equipment for officers assigned to these teams, as well as centralizing bail intake cases from individual districts to High-Risk Offender Unit to for greater efficiency and improved dissemination of bail/warrant breaches to frontline officers.
Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing (POC-FLP) Grant
Ontario is fighting back against crime in by investing $300,00 in crime prevention initiatives. The funds, forfeited to the province as proceeds of crime following criminal prosecutions, will be used to support of York Regional Police’s “Project United.”
The project aims to use a multifaceted approach to tackle the rise of hate crime in York Region – this includes specialized training for officers, increased community outreach, and conferences, forums, and educational resources provided to York Region students.
Next Generation 9-1-1
Ontario is investing $1,051,354 in York Region to enable significant technology and infrastructure upgrades to support the transition to a new 9-1-1 communications system know as Next Generation 9-1-1.
York Regional Police are working in partnership with the Region of York to facilitate the transition to NG911, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted service delivery.
The NG911 system will include interactive mapping, auto call-back/text-back features and a stand-alone facility for dispatchers and call-takers.
“The Region of York is pleased to partner with York Regional Police and the Province of Ontario in addressing crime and hate crime in our community,” said Regional Chair and Chair of the Police Services Board Wayne Emmerson. “Our citizens appreciate a co-ordinated approach to support victims of crime and to ensure our Region remains among the safest in Canada.”
“York Regional Police have been steadfast in their commitment to keeping our community safe,” said Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill. “This $3.7 million will enhance access to justice, keep dangerous criminals in jail, and combat the rise in hate crime. This funding underscores our government’s commitment to working shoulder-to-shoulder with our safety partners to build a safer York Region – and Ontario, for everyone.”
Quick Facts:
- Ontario is investing more than $1.7 million to help stop hate-motivated crimes across the province.
- Ontario is fighting auto theft by investing $51 million over three years to help police identify and dismantle organized crime networks and put thieves behind bars. This includes $18 million to support new and enhanced crime-fighting measures.
- In November 2023, the Ontario government introduced the Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 that will, if passed, make it easier for more victims of crime to sue an offender for emotional distress.
- Ontario is investing $112 million to help police track and monitor repeat and violent offenders who are released on bail. This includes $24 million to help police services establish dedicated bail compliance and/or warrant apprehension teams and support new technology for a provincewide bail compliance monitoring system.
SOURCE Office of MPP Laura Smith
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