WHITBY – Durham police receive more $10 million from Queen’s Park to address at-risk youth

Durham Regional Police will be using more than $10 million from Queen’s Park’s Community Safety and Policing grant program to support two projects that address at risk individuals in the region, including the creation of youth/gang liaison officers to help front-line officers and community partners identify at risk youth.

A second project will support the Durham Community and Safety Well-Being Plan through coordination, collaboration, training and evidence-based data evaluation to address priority risk factors.

“These grants will help enhance our efforts to support those at risk and address risk factors that impact the safety of our communities. These initiatives align with Durham’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and will ensure effective collaboration with community partners to reduce cases of acutely-elevated risk,” said DRPS Interim Chief Todd Rollauer.

“Community safety is a top priority, and our government has been strengthening our justice system to protect communities and hold offenders accountable,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “This investment is another way we are helping police services address local challenges and improve the well-being of the people they serve. Whether to combat the opioid crisis, share intelligence, or prevent violent crime, this funding will make a difference in all corners of Ontario.”

The CSP Grant Program helps police services address priority issues identified in their communities such as expanding mental health supports, preventing crime in schools and combatting cyber-crime. It also addresses province wide priorities such as:

• Gun and gang violence
• Sexual violence and harassment
• Human trafficking
• Mental health and addictions
• Hate-motivated crime.

The total three-year investment to the Durham force is $10,392,991.50, part of a $267 million provincial investment to help combat crime locally.

Durham Regional Police Service is one of 90 police services receiving funding through the CSP Grant Program.

“Public Safety is a top priority for this government. We remain committed to providing local frontline Durham Regional Police Services officers the tools they need to do their jobs and keep our local communities in Pickering-Uxbridge and across Durham Region, safe,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge and Ontario’s Finance Minister.

Under the Local Priorities Funding Stream, each eligible police services board had a pre-determined allocation that they could apply for.

DRPS, as well as all other police services receiving the funding, will be required to report twice a year on the financial activities and outcomes of their initiatives.