c o m m u n i t y s a f e t y

d u r h a m r e g i o n a l p o l i c e s e r v i c eM e e t i n g t h e B o a r d ’ s T a r g e t sIn 2007, the Durham Regional PoliceService managed to achieve all of theBoard’s targets except for one –responding to life-threateningemergencies within eight minutes, 90 percent of the time.This emergency response target remainedelusive due to a variety of reasons,including the vast geographical areascovered by Brock Township, ScugogTownship, Uxbridge Township and theMunicipality of Clarington. The Region ofDurham covers almost 2,500 squarekilometers – one of the largestmunicipalities in southern Ontario.Another prohibitive factor is the built upurban area in southern Durham Region,from the Toronto border in the west toNewcastle in the east, due to trafficcongestion and the number ofintersections.In 2007, the DRPS went a long way incollecting and analyzing the data relatedto emergency response times. The Serviceis continuing to review operationalbusiness practices impacting emergencyresponse to ensure the most effectivemodel.The following is a summary of some ofthe Board’s governing policies and howthe DRPS met the targets.Global EndsThe citizens and visitors of DurhamRegion have a safe community inwhich to live and work at acompetitive cost, relative to eightother comparable communities.Crime Prevention EndsThe crime rate in Durham Region isamongst the lowest compared to eightcomparable communities.Law Enforcement EndsThe clearance rates in Durham Regionare in the top third among the eightcomparable communities. Crimeprevention and law enforcement shallbe given equal priority over all otherends.RESULT: CompliantPROOF: At a cost of $205 per citizen,Durham Region has one of thelowest cost-per capita of itscomparator municipalities.*RESULT: CompliantPROOF: The total Criminal Code CrimeRate of 4,890 per 100,000 isthe fourth lowest of similarsizedcommunities in Ontario.*RESULT: CompliantPROOF: DRPS ranks third best out ofeight comparable municipalpolice services with a TotalCriminal Code Clearance Rateof 35%.** Cost per capita based on data directly from PoliceServices 2007 excluding revenues* Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for JusticeStatistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2006* Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for JusticeStatistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 20066l e a d e r s i n c o m m u n i t y s a f e t y