Funding Issues for Courthouse Security in Waterloo Region

The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) is reaching out to the province, requesting that the Ministry of the Solicitor General reconsider the funding provided for courthouse security as demand rises but financial support declines.

This year, the ministry has slashed nearly $600,000 from that grant, bringing it down to $4.7 million, which is less than half of what police estimate will be needed for courthouse security in 2026.

WRPS handles security at the Region of Waterloo Courthouse located in Kitchener and receives annual funding from the ministry through the Court Security and Prisoner Transportation (CSPT) grant program.

They project that providing courthouse security will cost around $10.3 million throughout 2026.

“We recognize that there is a shortfall and in the 2025 year there was a significant reduction that was unexpected,” Chief Mark Crowell told reporters during a police service’s board meeting Wednesday.

Increase in Violent Incidents at Courts

The funding cut comes just as the ministry has instructed police services to improve their courthouse security while also witnessing more violent occurrences in courtrooms.

Crowell mentioned that they have added two police officers and five special constables to their courthouse team after several violent events took place in 2025.

This addition resulted in an extra allocation of $2 million needed for their budget in 2026.

A report presented during the police service’s board meeting indicated that there have been more violent outbursts and “escalated behaviour from accused persons” as well as members of the public. The volume at courthouses has also surpassed pre-pandemic levels, according to the report.

In a letter addressed to Deputy Minister Mario Di Tommaso, Ian Mc Lean, chair of the police service’s board, pointed out various violent incidents occurring at Kitchener courthouse last year, including three bomb threats, someone breaking glass in the prisoner’s box, and an incident where an individual climbed into the box and charged at a judge before being subdued.

“The budget allocation from the province does not sufficiently fund what the provincial responsibility is and that’s why we’re getting to this,” Mc Lean stated during Wednesday’s meeting.

“We don’t have a choice in providing the level of services and protection and oversight at the courthouse. We have to provide it whether the provincial funding is there or not.”

Mc Lean’s letter also requests that ministry establish a base level of funding for police services through CSPT grants.

Source link