The Ontario government is providing police services across the province with additional tools and resources to combat crime and keep communities safe. The province is investing about $2.8 million over two years through the Community Safety and Policing Grant (CSP) program.
As part of the program, 16 police services will receive funding for projects that combat gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, and human trafficking—the three areas identified as provincial priorities.
“Gun and gang violence and other serious crimes are not limited to large urban centres. Smaller and rural communities across the province are also impacted,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “That is why our government continues to provide police services with the tools and resources they need to fight and prevent crime and hold criminals accountable.”
Initiatives receiving funding under the provincial priorities stream of the CSP grant program this year include:
- Education and awareness campaigns for the public (specifically youth) to learn about gun and gang violence, substance abuse and human trafficking.
- Enhanced training for police to better equip officers to handle sexual violence and harassment investigations, identify signs of human trafficking and interact with victims of human trafficking.
- Crime prevention initiatives for at-risk youth and other vulnerable groups.
- Specialized units that provide a comprehensive, survivor-centered approach to address human trafficking.
- Support services for survivors of sexual violence and harassment.
- Intelligence gathering and sharing which could include surveillance of organized crime, covert operations and social media monitoring of gang activity.
- Intervention and diversion strategies focused on youth and young adults who are at risk of entering gangs, as well as exit strategies for victims of human trafficking.
- Equipment purchases that support policing operations and activities such as enhanced software/technology and/or new vehicles.
This investment is in addition to the $195 million the province is providing through the local and provincial priorities funding streams of the CSP grant program, running over three years. It also builds on the province’s $112 million Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy and its new comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking.
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