Waterways Policing

Policy No:
02/00-37
Effective Date:

Legislative/Regulatory Requirements

Section 19(1) of the Police Services Act provides that the OPP is responsible for providing police services in respect of all navigable bodies and courses of water in Ontario, except those that lie within municipalities designated by the Minister of Public Safety and Security.

Section 15 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires every Chief of Police in a municipality that has been designated under subsection 19(1) of the Act to establish procedures and processes for the provision of police services in respect of all navigable bodies and courses of water within that municipality.

In addition, section 29 of the Regulation requires the police services board to establish policies with respect to waterways policing.

Board Policy 

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York Police Services Board with respect to waterways policing that the Chief of Police will:

  1. establish procedures on waterways policing; and

  2. ensure that members involved in waterways policing have the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the specialized functions connected with waterways policing.