Windsor police will soon have a weapon in their battle against bail scofflaws.
The Ontario government announced on Wednesday the launch of the Provincial Bail Compliance Dashboard, which is designed to help law enforcement agencies across the province monitor and share information about people who are on bail on firearm-related counts.
Windsor Police Superintendent Paolo DiCarlo said the service is almost ready to begin use of the system.
"We're in the position to work with the Ministry [of the Solicitor General] and we'll be ready to roll out the bail compliance as soon as it's ready to go," said DiCarlo. "So by the end of [quarter] one, we'll be rolling fully with the dashboard."
The dashboard is being managed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and is available to all municipal and First Nation law enforcement services who wish to participate.
DiCarlo said Windsor officers will soon have key information at their disposal.
"Real-time information, people on bail who should be abiding by those conditions, access to information at their fingertips essentially, information on bail conditions and where they live," said DiCarlo.
The dashboard is part of Ontario's $112-million rollout of tools to strengthen bail enforcement for the most high-risk and violent offenders.
During the first year of the Bail Compliance and Warrant Apprehension Grant, 2023-24, there was a 21 per cent increase in high-risk individuals being monitored by technology.
-with files from Maureen Revait
