The OPP 2023 Annual Report says 500 officers were hired and they respond to a traffic event every four minutes. Those are just a few facts gleaned from this year's report.
This year's new enhanced electronic report has interactive content with links to additional information and previous years' statistics for added context and includes embedded videos and podcasts. The Annual Report can be viewed on the OPP's website at opp.ca.
In 2023, the organization hired and trained more than 500 new recruits and experienced officers. This was an increase of almost 40 per cent from 2022. Through call-takers to dispatchers to officers on the frontline, the OPP received more than two million calls for service last year. In 2023, OPP officers were dispatched to a traffic event every four minutes.
OPP officers initiated a traffic stop every 80 seconds representing an increase of 26 per cent over 2022. "Unfortunately, drivers continued to choose to drive while impaired. OPP officers issued more than 11,000 impaired charges in an ongoing effort to protect the safety of all motorists," says a release.
Additionally, the OPP's Criminal Investigation Branch investigated 160 major crimes including 40 homicides in 2023. The OPP also removed $15.4 million estimated street value of illicit drugs from communities through the work of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.
"With the incidence of chronic violent offenders given judicial interim release and committing further violent criminal acts thereafter, the importance of bail reform was made clear. Following OPP appearances before several Standing Committees calling for meaningful legislative change, several bail reform initiatives were introduced in 2023, including Bill C-48. This Bill makes targeted changes to the Criminal Code's bail regime to address serious repeat violent offenders with weapons in an effort to enhance the safety of officers and all citizens of Ontario," says the report.
The full report can be found here.
"I am immensely proud of our organization's achievements over the past year. Our dedication to the safety and well-being of the communities we serve across the province remains unwavering,." said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.
