Belleville Police – CORE Initiative Sees Summer Success, Program Extended Through August

Pete Fisher
5 hours ago
• Categories: Police Blotter

The Belleville Police Service is proud to share the early success of its Community-Oriented Responsive Enforcement (CORE) initiative, a proactive summer program focused on strengthening relationships between police and the community through visibility, connection, and collaboration.

As a result of the initiative’s success and strong community response, the Belleville Police Service has extended CORE through the end of August.

Launched initially as a four-week pilot, CORE aimed to promote safety and address concerns in the downtown area by partnering with local agencies to share information, organize targeted enforcement efforts and tackle problems together.

Belleville Police and its community partners worked closely throughout the initial phase to carry out targeted patrols, respond to issues, and strengthen safety through a coordinated, proactive approach.

The initiative brought multiple agencies together to deliver real-time solutions and promote long-term community well-being.

As a direct result of these efforts, Belleville Police recorded the following activity in July:
· 109 officer-generated incidents, including:

o 17 Liquor License and Control Act Charges

o 5 Criminal Charges

o 22 Highway Traffic Act Charges

o 1 three-day License Suspension

o 6 Arrests

Several city and provincial partners have played a key role in this initiative:

· City of Belleville By-law Enforcement launched two active investigations based on concerns brought forward through CORE.

· Belleville Fire and Emergency Services routinely conducts inspections in the downtown core. Of note during this initiative, numerous Ontario Fire Code violations have been identified and inspection orders issued. Areas of concerns included impeded exits, improper maintenance and/or obstruction of sprinkler systems, missing maintenance records for life safety systems, and lack of fire safety plans.

o In the past 4 weeks, the Belleville Fire Prevention team have conducted 8 inspections on a mix of commercial and residential units in the downtown core.

· Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) inspectors joined CORE patrols with Belleville police and, to date, have issued two violations under the Liquor Licence and Control Act.

“The CORE initiative has made a visible and meaningful difference in our downtown, said Danielle Hanoman, Executive Director of the Downtown Belleville BIA, adding

“We’ve received positive feedback from the community, with many stakeholders expressing appreciation for the increased police presence and the sense of safety it brings.

“This initiative has not only helped address concerns but also renewed confidence among business owners and residents. We’re grateful for the continued collaboration with Belleville Police and community partners to make downtown Belleville a more vibrant and welcoming place for everyone.”

“Working together to keep our community safe is really what it’s all about, and that’s exactly what CORE is doing,” said Belleville Police Insp. Jeremy Ashley, noting the concept of this initiative was suggested and developed by Belleville Police Staff Sgt. Kyle King.

“In just four weeks, we’ve seen what can happen when police, city partners, and community groups come together – it’s preventing crime, supporting people, and building trust. Our team is proud to be part of something that’s making a significant difference.”

The Belleville Police Service thanks all community partners, businesses, and residents who have supported the initiative so far and looks forward to further collaboration as the program continues through August.