WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Wellington OPP will receive $1,065,930, over three years, through the province’s Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension (BCWA) Grant program.
The funding is aimed at helping prevent repeat and violent offenders from committing serious crimes while out on bail, states a Jan. 11 press release from Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae.
“Supporting our local law enforcement is supporting the safety of our small and rural communities,” Rae said.
“This funding will help keep repeat and violent offenders off our streets and protect our rural communities,” Rae added.
Through the BCWA Grant, the government is investing $24 million across the province to help establish dedicated bail compliance and/or warrant apprehension teams to monitor high-risk individuals.
The funding is being delivered over three years and will also support new technology for a province-wide bail compliance monitoring system.
“It is unacceptable that repeat and violent offenders are committing serious crimes while out on bail,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner.
“By giving police the tools they need to track and arrest offenders who violate their bail conditions, our government is helping to ensure Ontario is one of the safest jurisdictions in Canada,” Kerzner added.
The BCWA Grant is part of a $112 million allotment to strengthen the province’s bail system and ensure repeat and violent offenders comply with their bail and court-ordered conditions.
Other initiatives include:
– creation of a Bail Compliance Unit within the OPP’s Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Squad;
– establishment of Intensive Serious Violent Crime Bail Teams within the court system;
– a new province-wide bail compliance dashboard to help monitor high-risk offenders with the most accurate data possible.
The BCWA Grant program will support 17 municipal police services, four First Nations police services and 12 OPP services.
