Crime fighting efforts in Wellington North are getting a boost with the provincial government providing $26,876 from the sale of assets seized as proceeds of crime, Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson announced on May 28.
“We want to ensure that criminals will not profit from their illegal activities,” Wilkinson said. “By seizing the proceeds of criminal activity and using the money to fight crime, we’re making crime less profitable and helping to keep our rural communities safe. Locally, this will mean reduced drug use and reduced criminal behaviour among our area youth.”
County OPP Inspector Scott said, “Wellington OPP Detachment will use these funds to expand the community’s capacity to access the Strengthening Families for Future program, and thereby reduce youth drug use and crime in our schools and communities.”
The funding comes from assets seized by the province as proceeds of crime.
Under federal legislation police and prosecutors can seize assets from criminal activities.
Ontario’s Proceeds of Crime Front Line Policing Grant program makes the funds available to municipal police services, First Nations police services, and OPP to fund crime prevention initiatives and equipment.
“We’re making available more resources to help police fight crime. This initiative deprives criminals of the proceeds of crime and provides more resources for our hard-working police who are working to make Ontarians safer and stronger in Wellington North and in other communities across the province,” said Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
