Ontario Providing Funding for the Kawartha Lakes Police Service to Support to Victims and Improve Co

KAILIE OORTWYN,

Office of Laurie Scott, MPP

The Ontario government is investing $365,358.12 over three years to provide the Kawartha Lakes Police Service with significant new resources to safeguard local communities. This funding is part of Ontario’s $267 million investment in the Community Safety and Policing (CSP) Grant Program for initiatives that help combat crime locally.

The week of April 4th, the Kawartha Lakes Police Service also received a grant of $164,947.84 over two years through the Victim Support Grant (VSG) program to enhance the capacity to support survivors of intimate partner violence and human trafficking.

“This funding will help our local police services and community partners work together to help more victims get the supports they need and support the implementation of important public safety and community policing initiatives,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

The Kawartha Lakes Police Service will use the Community Safety and Policing Grant Program funds to continue important mental health and addictions outreach programs in our community. The Kawartha Lakes Police Service works with partner agencies like the Ross Memorial Hospital and FourCast Addiction Services to pair police officers with mental health and substance abuse professionals. The CSP Grant helps to support the cost of these programs and deliver specialized services to the most difficult cases.

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 provincewide priorities such as:

• Gun and gang violence

• Sexual violence and harassment

• Human trafficking

• Mental health and addictions

• Hate-motivated crime

The Kawartha Lakes Police Service will use the Victim Support Grant to support and enhance services such as:

• Reducing barriers to making a police report

• Statement support

• Safety planning

•Accessing the Victim Quick Response Program+ when eligible

• Assistance entering a shelter

•Assistance with priority housing application

•Referrals to community and government support services

“Intimate Partner Violence has had a devastating impact on many people within our community. The government of Ontario recently provided funding through the Victim Support Grant to assist victims and survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking. Locally, funding was used to create the Kawartha Lakes Intimate Partner Violence Support Unit, which is a collaboration between the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP, and Kawartha Haliburton Victim Services and Women’s Resources. The Kawartha Lakes IPV Support Unit offers services to meet the unique needs of victims of intimate partner violence in the City of Kawartha Lakes,” said Mark Mitchell, Chief of Police for the City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service.

“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.”

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