Criminal Harassment

Policy No:
02/00-30
Effective Date:
Date Amended:
Date Reviewed:
2010, 2018
Reporting Requirements:

In accordance with internal auditing process

Legislative Authority:

Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, and c.P.15, as amended. s. 31(1); Adequacy Standards Regulation O. Reg. 3/99. S. 12(1)(c) and S.29

Related to:
Audit Policy No. 01/08, amended June 2014.

1. Purpose

  1. Section 29 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on investigations into criminal harassment.  
  2. In addition, section 12(1)(c) requires the Chief of Police to develop and maintain procedures on and processes for undertaking and managing investigations into criminal harassment.

2. Policy Requirements

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to undertaking and managing investigations into criminal harassment that the Chief of Police will develop and maintain procedures that address:

  1. the procedures for investigating criminal harassment complaints in accordance with the police service’s criminal investigation management plan; 
  2. the use of enhanced investigative techniques, such as behavioural science services as part of the investigation;
  3. the provision of victims’ assistance; 
  4. the information to be provided to police officers on criminal harassment; and
  5. compliance with the Ministry’s designated Ontario Major Case Management Manual for criminal harassment cases that fall within the definition of major case.

3. Reporting Requirements

  1. As part of the statistical reports, the Chief of Police shall report to the Board on criminal harassment incidents and the clearance rates.
  2. The Chief of Police shall report on compliance with this policy in accordance with the Board's Audit Policy No. 01/08.