Municipal policing Strategic Plan required in Ontario

Each Police Service Board in Ontario must prepare a Strategic Plan guiding the police service in the municipality. The plan must be developed in consultation with municipal council and local community groups, be made publicly available online and be reviewed and revised at least once every 4 years.

The police service board shall, in accordance with the regulations, if any, prepare and adopt a strategic plan for the provision of policing, which shall address at least the following matters:

1. How the police service board will ensure the provision of adequate and effective policing in accordance with the needs of the population of the area.
2. The objectives, priorities and core functions of the police service.
3. Quantitative and qualitative performance objectives and indicators of outcomes relating to,
   • the provision of community-based crime prevention initiatives, community patrol and criminal investigation services,
   • community satisfaction with the policing provided,
   • emergency calls for service,
   • violent crime and clearance rates for violent crime,
   • property crime and clearance rates for property crime,
   • youth crime and clearance rates for youth crime,
   • police assistance to victims of crime and re-victimization rates,
   • interactions with persons described in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this subsection,
   • road safety, and
   • any other prescribed matters.
4. Interactions with,
   • youths,
   • members of racialized groups, and
   • members of First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities.
5. Interactions with persons who appear to have a mental illness or a neurodevelopmental disability.
6. Information technology.
7. Resource planning.
8. Police facilities.
9. Any other prescribed matters

(6) The police service board shall publish the strategic plan on the Internet in accordance with the regulations made by the Minister, if any.

Section 39 of the Community Safety and Policing Act

The Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 as established by the Ford PC government’s Bill 68, Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019 to replace the Police Services Act, 1990 came into effect on April 1, 2024.

Strategic Plan must consult municipal council, First Nations, diverse communities, community organizations

In preparing or revising the strategic plan, the police service board shall consult with,

(a)  the chief of police;

(b)  the municipal council of any municipalities in the board’s area of policing responsibility;

(c)  the band councils of any First Nations in the board’s area of policing responsibility;

(d)  groups representing diverse communities in the board’s area of policing responsibility;

(e)  school boards, community organizations, businesses and members of the public in the board’s area of policing responsibility; and

(f)  any other prescribed persons, organizations or groups. 2019, c. 1, Sched. 1, s. 39 (3).

Section 39 (3) of the Community Safety and Policing Act