Durham Regional Police among recipients of provincial auto theft grant

DAN CEARNS The Standard

DURHAM: The Ontario government is looking to help police forces across the province prevent auto thefts.

On Friday, November 24th, Premier Doug Ford and Solicitor General Michael Kerzner announced the launch of the ‘Preventing Auto Thefts (PAT) grant’.

According to an Ontario government press release, this grant provides “funding for 21 projects that feature new and enhanced crime-fighting measures, focused on prevention, detection, analysis and enforcement.”

“It is no secret that public safety is amongst the highest priorities for this government. And, in Ontario we have diverse urban centres and swaths of rural communities that each require a tailored style of policing,” Solicitor General Kerzner said.

The press release states, this grant was open to “all municipal, First Nations police services and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) contract and non-contract locations.”

The Durham Regional Police Service was one of the recipients of this grant, receiving $900,000.

“The time to act has never been more important than right now: because we believe in our provinceand in its future,” the Solicitor General said.

Premier Doug Ford explained this grant can be used for “extra tools, supports, and resources to fight auto theft in our communities.”

“We’re doing everything we can to support our police services, as we work together to tackle crime in our communities,” Premier Ford concluded.