Police will be closely watching high-risk offenders who gain release on bail.
The province is launching a new system that allows police to monitor and share information about individuals charged with firearms-related offences and later released on bail.
The Provincial Bail Compliance Dashboard allows police to monitor and share information about individuals charged with firearms-related offences.
Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform Graham McGregor says it is something the province can do to make communities safer.
“This bail compliance dashboard is part of us doing that. And you’re going to continue to see us work to do everything we can to give our frontline police officers, give our justice system every tool and resource that they can have to keep Ontario safe,” says McGregor.
McGregor says they still advocate for the federal government to change the criminal code that leads to stiffer sentences and bail requirements.
“There are some people who have proven they simply don’t deserve bail. When police break up an organized car theft ring and half of those arrested are back out on bail before a news release hits the media’s inbox, that signals to me, that should signal to everyone that something is very, very wrong,” says McGregor.
The dashboard will be managed by the OPP and rolled out to all municipal and First Nation police services who want to participate.
OPP Deputy Commissioner Karen Meyer says the dashboard brings a new level of security and efficiency to policing in Ontario
“It significantly improves the tracking and monitoring of the compliance of offenders out on bail for firearms-related offences. It enhances the safety of frontline officers and ensures they can proactively respond to bail violations,” says Meyer.
Guelph, York Regional, Peel and Toronto Police Services have already signed on.
