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Security initiatives are essential to help improve overall community safety in downtown Ajax

The Town of Ajax and DRPS continue to work closely together to make improvements on the safety of the Ajax Plaza in the downtown core. Enhanced security measures help with the overall safety of the area for the Town’s business owners, plaza tenants, residents and visitors.

The Town has implemented community security initiatives including:

  • Ajax Partnership Fund (APF) Microgrant: This microgrant falls under this year’s APF funding. The APF Microgrant is providing a $500 grant to qualifying businesses to purchase small-scale security equipment/upgrades. The grant total is $10,000, and any remainder will be strategically used to support the vulnerable community. Applications for this microgrant closed on August 30, 2024.
  • CCTV Program: 360-degree cameras will be installed in central areas of the Ajax Plaza. This program is a part of a provincial grant awarded to DRPS with $47,000 allocated to Ajax. It is anticipated that the project completion date will be mid to end of October.
  • DRPS Bike Team Pilot Program: A team of officers on bikes monitor the downtown core daily from May – September.

Additionally, on August 28, 2024, Town staff and DRPS held an Ajax Plaza Community Security Event with community engagement booths and information sharing. This was an opportunity for business owners and plaza tenants at the Ajax Plaza to connect Town staff and DRPS to learn more about community safety initiatives for the area.

Quote

“The safety of our community is a main priority, and our close work with DRPS is essential to ensuring we continue to improve our safety measures. It is important that we provide opportunities for business owners and tenants in highly impacted areas to learn more about safety initiatives, ask questions and express concerns, so we can take action to make necessary improvements. I am pleased to see the progress made on the Town’s security initiatives and appreciate all of the ongoing support from DRPS and the community.” – Mayor Shaun Collier

Quick Facts

  • The Ajax Partnership Fund Microgrant is providing a $500 grant to qualifying businesses to purchase small-scale security equipment/upgrades. The grant total is $10,000 and any remainder will be strategically used to support the vulnerable community. Applications were open from June 3 – August 30, 2024.
  • Another important community security initiative is the CCTV Program – the installation of 360-degree cameras in central areas of the plaza to expand video surveillance systems and better protect communities.
  • In partnership with Ajax, a provincial grant awarded to the DRPS. DRPS received $200,000 for CCTV initiatives across the Region, and $47,000 was allocated to Ajax.
  • These systems are an important part of local police work to detect, prevent and deter criminal activity. This funding will help police services strengthen CCTV capacity and improve crime prevention efforts.
  • The CCTV installation project anticipated completion date is mid to end of October 2024.
  • The DRPS Bike Team Pilot Program involves officers on bikes in the downtown core daily from May – September monitoring the area to help improve community safety.

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