JOINT NEWS RELEASE
DOUG DOWNEY, MPP BARRIE-SPRINGWATER- ORO-MEDONTE
ANDREA KHANJIN, MPP BARRIE-INNISFIL
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The Ontario government is investing $170,000 in 2020-21 in closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to help Barrie Police Service better detect, investigate and prevent criminal activity.
The Ontario CCTV Grant, which was announced in August 2020, is providing police services with a total of $6 million over three years to expand CCTV systems in their communities and improve public safety.
“Improving the technology and information available to our frontline police is critical to deterring unlawful activity and holding offenders accountable in our communities,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte “People in Barrie need to feel safe in their homes and their businesses as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19 without fear of crime.”
”The existing closed circuit television (CCTV) program in the downtown area has been in place since 2012 and has been an effective tool in deterring crime in public places," said Police Chief Kimberley Greenwood. "This resource has been embraced by the Barrie Police Service and has greatly assisted our members in identifying suspects along with the ability to gather evidence when criminal activity takes place. The awarding of this grant by the Ontario Government will help to support the purchase and strategic installation of new state of the art equipment while enhancing the viewshed provided by the current system. We are confident that the grant will greatly aid in the continued safety of the community and business owners in the downtown area.”
The CCTV grant builds on the province's approximate $106 million investment to combat gun and gang violence, with the support of the federal government, through Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy.
"The Barrie Police Service's uniformed and civilian force works hard to provide us with a safe community," said MPP Andrea Khanjin. "This funding provides more tools to help deter crime in our community and enable our dedicated police to catch those who do commit crimes."
“By strengthening CCTV surveillance systems across the province, Ontario’s police services will be better equipped to prevent criminal activity, identify and apprehend offenders,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “This expansion will support the local fight against guns and gangs while deterring other crimes such as drug and human trafficking, street racing and stunt driving. The use of CCTV cameras will also help hold criminals accountable by providing important visual evidence to support investigations and the prosecution process.”
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