Ontario Cracking Down on Crime in Leeds and Grenville

Province protecting local communities with proceeds seized from criminals

BROCKVILLE — The Ontario government is fighting back against crime in Leeds and Grenville by investing $600 thousand over three years in crime prevention initiatives. The funds, forfeited to the province as proceeds of crime following criminal prosecutions will be used to support community safety projects by Grenville County OPP.

“I want to thank the dedicated men and women of our local police services who keep our streets safe by seizing the cash and proceeds of crime that fuel criminal activity,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “It’s fitting that funds seized from criminals are being reinvested to do good in our community by supporting victims and educating youth to prevent them from embarking on a life of crime.”

Since 2018, Ontario has invested more than $16 million in crime prevention initiatives across the province through the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing (POC-FLP) Grant program. Funding through the POC-FLP will help Grenville County OPP’s Enhanced Fraud Support Team to acquire training and specialized software. The Fraud Team is a partnership of representatives from the Grenville, Leeds and Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachments, the Municipality of North Grenville, schools, seniors’ organizations and the Financial Transactions and Reports and Analysis Centre of Canada. The Fraud Team will be able to support interactions with individuals experiencing hearing and mobility impairment and work remotely to allow members of the community to more easily engage with law enforcement outside of police detachments.

“We’re using every tool including cash and proceeds seized from criminals to prevent crime and protect our communities,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Thanks to the hard work of our
men and women in uniform, these funds are being reinvested back into communities to help support victims, educate youth and increase awareness about crimes such as gang violence and hate.”

“Public education is always the best tool to fight fraud,” said Grenville County OPP Detachment Commander, Inspector Stephan Neufeld. “Grants such as these will provide police the tools to
prevent frauds, educate the public to reduce victimization and connect any victims with proper support.”

To date, the POC-FLP Grant program has funded 281 community safety projects across the province.

QUICK FACTS:

• Ontario is investing more than $1.7 million to help stop hate-motivated crimes across the province.
• 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 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.
• 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.