Vital Signs Data
Updated Dec 5, 2024
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
SDG 16.1: Residents are safe and secure, in person and online.
Crime Severity is Low Compared to Ontario
Crime Severity is Low Compared to Ontario
The severity of police-reported crime in PEC is lower than the Ontario average.
The Crime Severity Index tracks changes in the severity of police-reported crime by accounting for both the amount of crime reported by police in a given jurisdiction and the relative seriousness of these crimes. Prince Edward County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is committed to maintaining the County’s low rate of violent criminality and improving the access that those victimized by violence will have to victim support services.
PEC Crime Rates & Trends
9 year average compared to 2023 (2014 to 2023) percentage change
Non-criminal incidents make up 75-85% of police calls, leading PEC organizations to work closely with the OPP to address these social issues.
Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada, yet entirely preventable. In PEC, 70 per cent of the impaired drivers taken off the road are from Prince Edward County, most are male (80 per cent) and the majority are within the ages of 20 to 45.
OPP Staff Sergeant John Hatch links the rise in PEC numbers partly to RIDE programs and traffic stops, which help deter and catch impaired drivers. Expanded public transportation options are being introduced to give alternatives to driving.
In 2023, 178 fraud cases totaling $815,000 in losses were reported. The rise in cases may reflect greater awareness and comfort in reporting, with seniors being especially vulnerable to online and phone scams.
The continued high volume of domestic and intimate partner violence incidents has led to the assignment of a dedicated officer for response and follow-up. Globally, nearly 1 in 3, or 30%, of women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence or both. (World Health Organization)
Since July 2022, the IMPACT program has revolutionized mental health crisis response by pairing mental health workers with officers, easing de-escalation, reducing apprehensions, and lessening trauma.
Incidents of Break & Enter are decreasing through the efforts of the Community Street Crime Unit.
Community Safety and Well-being Plan
The Prince Edward County Community Safety and Well-being Plan is a long-term strategy to make safety and well-being a reality for vulnerable individuals, families, groups, and locations. The plan includes strategies for community safety and well-being at four levels of intervention: social development, prevention, risk intervention, and emergency response.
Social causes for crime include inequality, lack of support for families and neighbourhoods, real or perceived inaccessibility to services, lack of leadership in communities and a low value being placed on the well-being of children and individuals. (Crime Prevention Council, "The root causes of crime") Prince Edward County organizations work collaboratively with the OPP to counteract these problems.
Five priority areas
- Housing and homelessness
- Seniors support
- Poverty reduction
- Mental Health and Problematic Substance Use
- Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence
Community Resources
Alternatives for Women
Counselling services are free and confidential. Services include Second Stage Housing and non-judgmental, supportive counselling from a feminist perspective. They advocate on behalf of women and children and provide public education about the issues that concern women who have experienced domestic violence. AFW will be launching new training for frontline workers around the barriers that cause victims to return to violent homes. www.alternativesforwomen.org
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
HPE Public Health supports local community organizations to address violence, help those who need support, and combat intimate partner violence. hpepublichealth.ca/violence-prevention
Community Advocacy and Legal Centre
Free, confidential legal help to people living on a low income. Services include assistance with Abuse and Family Violence problems plus Income assistance, Employment and work, Housing, Consumer and debt, Human rights and discrimination, Victims of crime, Schools and education, and Seniors’ issues. communitylegalcentre.ca
Ontario Provincial Police - Prince Edward Detachment
The Prince Edward Detachment provides policing of land and waterways. Specialized units include drug enforcement, aviation, explosive disposal, search and rescue, canine and emergency response.
Call 613 476-2151.
For emergency assistance, DIAL 911.
You can also call 1-888-310-1122 24 hours/day toll free, anywhere in Ontario
Address: 569 County Road #1, Picton, Ontario www.opp.ca/index.php?id=115
