Community Safety

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 35-10-0188-01  Crime severity index

Non-criminal incidents make up 75-85% of police calls, leading PEC organizations to work closely with the OPP to address these social issues. The main policing challenges in 2024 are:

Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death in Canada, yet entirely preventable. In PEC, about 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 (retired in 2025) 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.

Property Crimes

Break & Enter incidents have declined significantly, thanks to the efforts of the Community Street Crime Unit. Between 2014 and 2023, incidents averaged 62 per year, but in 2024, none were reported.

Problematic Substance Use

There were 0 (zero) opioid overdose incidents in 2024. There were 17 the year before.

Highway Safety

Between 2014 and 2023, traffic fatalities averaged two per year. However, in 2023 and 2024, there were none. Personal injuries from collisions also declined, dropping from an average of 44 per year to 36 in 2024. Deer-vehicle collisions remain frequent.

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.

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

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

Community Support Resources Directory

A listing of local resources from financial assistance, victim support, housing and more.

https://vitalsigns.thecountyfoundation.ca/data/post/community-resources