Cobourg and Port Hope Police Services get CCTV grant
Photos submitted by MPP David Piccini.
By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News
Cobourg, Port Hope
The Cobourg Police Service and Port Hope Police Service will get a combined $355,000 boost from the Ontario Closed Circuit Television Grant Program to help protect their communities against crime and violence.
These funds can be used to replace outdated CCTV equipment, expand or enhance current technology, and install new or additional surveillance cameras in areas where crime is most prevalent.
This grant program was launched in August 2020 as part of Ontario's Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy.
The breakdown is $255,000 to the Cobourg Police Service and $100,000 to Port Hope Police Service, This grant represents two of 14 projects across the province that represent a total investment of $2-million for 2024-2025.
Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini reiterated the government's commitment to support police services in keeping our streets safe, calling this technology “a powerful tool for our frontline police officers.”
“Having modern equipment enables them to detect and deter criminal activity in our community, keeping residents safe.”
“No community is immune to the impacts of organized crime,” Cobourg Police Chief Paul VandeGraaf stated in the announcement. CCTV technology is a crucial step in tackling gun and gang violence, while ensuring the safety of our residents,” he said, adding that this grant will enable the Cobourg Police Service to expand and maintain its CCTV network.
Port Hope Police Chief Tim Farquharson noted that these cameras are “a cost-effective investigative tool that can augment traditional policing.”
“When used in a reasonable, conscionable way, CCTV cameras can contribute to community safety by capturing evidence that can assist in determining the truth and convicting the guilty.”
