KAWARTHA LAKES-The Ontario government says it is providing $417,672.68 over three years to the Kawartha Lakes Police Service to help prevent repeat and violent offenders from committing serious crimes while out on bail.
“The Kawartha Lakes Police Service appreciates the investment by the Provincial government and the Solicitor General, to enhance public safety and establish a dedicated bail compliance and offender management unit,” said Mark Mitchell, Chief of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service. “This unit will enhance our efforts to ensure that violent offenders and those on bail conditions, are complying with the conditions of their release.
Through the Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension (BCWA) Grant program, the government says it is investing $24 million across the province to help establish dedicated bail compliance and/or warrant apprehension teams to monitor high-risk individuals. The funding is being delivered over three years and will also support new technology for a province-wide bail compliance monitoring system.
“Enforcing bail conditions is not just a matter of justice, but a commitment to community safety” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock. “Ensuring offenders comply with bail conditions, and reprimanding those that don’t, are crucial steps in maintaining a safe environment for everyone.”
The BCWA Grant program will support 17 municipal police services, four First Nations police services and 12 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) services.
“It is unacceptable that repeat and violent offenders are committing serious crimes while out on bail,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “By giving police the tools they need to track and arrest offenders who violate their bail conditions, our government is helping to ensure Ontario is one of the safest jurisdictions in Canada.”
