News Release

Civil Forfeiture Funds To Support Local Police

Helping Durham Police Increase Public Safety

July 21, 2009

News

The Durham Regional Police Service is buying a new mobile command vehicle as the result of a grant from the Attorney General's Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities Program.

The service will receive a grant of $175,000 to buy the mobile command vehicle for its Public Order Unit. This will allow the unit to respond faster to emergencies, improve searches for evidence at crime scenes and more effectively assist in the search for missing persons.

The grant is from a program created under the Civil Remedies Act that allows money to be taken out of the hands of wrongdoers and used to support the prevention of crime and victimization.

Quotes

"This vehicle will allow police to respond quickly and effectively to incidents across the region. Our government is giving the police another tool to keep the families and communities of Durham region safe."
— Chris Bentley, Attorney General

"We're delighted with today's announcement. This funding is most appreciated and will enable us to purchase and equip an important emergency response vehicle that will be worth its weight in gold in the field."
— Chief Mike Ewles, Durham Regional Police Service

"The Civil Remedies Act takes funds out of the hands of criminals and provides resources for Durham Region that will offer help to victims and their families. Working together we are creating safer, stronger communities across Ontario."
— Joe Dickson, MPP Ajax-Pickering

Quick Facts

• Since November 2003, $11 million in property has been forfeited to the Crown under provincial civil forfeiture law. An additional $39.6 million in property is frozen pending the completion of civil forfeiture proceedings.
• Civil forfeiture proceeds have funded approximately $1.2 million in compensation to direct victims of unlawful activity and $3.4 million in grants to law enforcement agencies.

Learn More

Learn more about civil forfeiture in Ontario. 

Read the Civil Remedies Act.

Contacts

Erin Moroz
Minister's Office, 416-326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch, 416-326-2210

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