TORONTO - Toronto police will get some "cool" new tools to help nab criminals as well as money to renovate an interview room to make crime victims more comfortable.
The force applied for and will receive five provincial grants totalling almost $292,000 under the province's Civil Remedies Grant program.
"Some of the funds will be used in fighting organized crime. Other funds will be used to support victims ... particularly child victims," said Attorney General Chris Bentley, who joined Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Jim Bradley and police Chief Bill Blair to announce the grants Monday.
The Civil Remedies Act, which Bentley called "Robin Hood" legislation, allows the government to seek a civil order to seize money, assets and property associated with crime.
Funding of $69,000 will go towards state-of-the-art 3-D laser scanning equipment -- similar to that seen on the popular "CSI" crime shows -- to allow police to better map crime scenes.
"We have to map crime scenes," Blair said at police headquarters. "We often have to present that information as evidence in court. So that really enhances our ability to present accurate, comprehensive information to the courts."
The chief also enthused about $3,400 worth of new surveillance and camera equipment that will help officers identify fugitives and probe organized crime -- tools he called "kinda cool."
Blair said video is invaluable in murder and robbery investigations. He said some of the money may be spent on facial recognition software, the same kind used during this summer's G20 investigations to help identify those suspected of vandalism and violence.
Police will also spend about $25,000 on a new interview room they hope will make crime victims feel more comfortable, especially women who have been sexually assaulted, and children.
"When somebody's been traumatized by a crime or is coming to see police for the first time as a witness to the crime, the rather stark nature of our interview rooms -- the desk, a couple of metal chairs -- can be quite intimidating," said Blair.
Money will also be spent on educational materials aimed at preventing child exploitation.
Since November 2003, $40 million has been seized from criminals and more than $13 million has been returned to crime victims groups and police under the act, said Bentley.
Previous money from the program has gone to provincial police for specialized training of officers. London police received money for a large command and control vehicle to go to emergency situations. Other forces received money for surveillance in high crime areas or for victims.
