Following the example of governments in other countries, the Province of Ontario is redistributing the confiscated wealth of criminals to support policing initiatives. Since 2018, Ontario has acquired more than $16 million through confiscating the proceeds of criminal enterprises following the conviction of the criminals involved. The Grenville County OPP detachment will be receiving $600,000 from the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing (POC-FLP) Grant program.
The funds will be used to increase training and equipment for the Fraud Team, a partnership of representatives from the Grenville, Leeds and Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachments, the Municipality of North Grenville, schools, seniors’ organizations and the Financial Transactions and Reports and Analysis Centre of Canada.
“I want to thank the dedicated men and women of our local police services who keep our streets safe by seizing the cash and proceeds of crime that fuel criminal activity,” said Steve Clark, MPP. “It’s fitting that funds seized from criminals are being reinvested to do good in our community by supporting victims and educating youth to prevent them from embarking on a life of crime.”
The new funds were welcomed by Grenville County OPP Detachment Commander, Inspector Stephan Neufeld: “Public education is always the best tool to fight fraud. Grants such as these will provide police the tools to prevent frauds, educate the public to reduce victimization and connect any victims with proper supports.”
To date, the POC-FLP Grant program has funded 281 community safety projects across the Province.
This money should go to the victimes of crime. Police should never be in a position to benefit from crime. Victims have many needs and those needs should be met first.