Northumberland Police Services Review
At the request of Northumberland County Council, the County is undertaking a comprehensive review of police services delivered in Northumberland to ensure effective and affordable policing over the long-term as the community grows and changes. The County has retained the services of a third party – StrategyCorp – to undertake this review. With Northumberland expected to grow by 35 per cent over the next 25 years, to a population of 122,000, the review will produce recommendations designed to ensure that local police services are structured and equipped to respond to future needs.
Northumberland municipalities benefit from the expertise and professionalism of local police services, whose members are out in the community every day ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors. This review is about ensuring that policing in our community is positioned to thrive over the long-term. A final report will ensure that Northumberland municipalities have the information to make informed and intentional decisions about how best to safeguard community safety and security well into the future.
Background
Northumberland municipalities currently rely on three distinct police services to maintain community safety and security:
- Cobourg Police Service (CPS): Serving the Town of Cobourg.
- Port Hope Police Service (PHPS): Primarily serving the urban area of the Municipality of Port Hope.
- Ontario Provincial Police (OPP): Serving the rural area of the Municipality of Port Hope, along with Hamilton Township, Alnwick-Haldimand Township, Cramahe Township, the Municipality of Brighton, and the Municipality of Trent Hills.
At the request of County Council, County staff is coordinating this comprehensive review in collaboration with all three police services and local municipalities. StrategyCorp will prepare a comprehensive report for County Council's consideration.
Scope of the Review
The review will encompass stakeholder interviews and a thorough evaluation of current policing service levels, operational costs, and existing revenue streams. The goal is to provide recommendations for future service delivery based on options ranging from maintaining existing service structures to consideration of a combined model.
Project Timeline
This review is expected to produce a comprehensive report for County Council in the second half of 2024.
About Policing Governance in Northumberland County
Governed by the Police Services Act, three Police Service Boards oversee policing in Northumberland. These boards provide civilian oversight for the respective jurisdictions policed by CPS, PHPS, and the OPP.
It is important to emphasize that local municipalities retain decision-making authority regarding the administration of policing services within their jurisdictions. As the Mayors of Northumberland, County Council has asked for a consolidated approach for this review, to be coordinated by the County. The final report will be delivered to Northumberland County Council and shared with area municipalities for their consideration.
We appreciate your interest in this initiative to ensure sustainable services for community safety and wellbeing over the long-term.
If you have any questions or comments, you would like share, please email PoliceServicesReview@northumberland.ca.