- The Ontario government said late July it would spend $134 million on 5 new police helicopters
- The choppers were specifically earmarked for use in the province’s anti-car-theft efforts
- The helicopters will patrol the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa region
Is someone in Ontario’s Ford administration, perhaps Doug himself, dreaming of one day going for a helicopter ride? It’s one explanation for that province’s government recently announcing it’s spending some $134 million out of its anti-car-theft budget to purchase five new police helicopters, apparently as part of efforts to tamp down on the rising rates of stolen cars.
More seriously, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ottawa have been grappling with a surge in auto theft and public safety issues. In a bid to curb this growing menace, the Ontario government has announced a significant investment in police helicopters.
Auto theft in Ontario has reached alarming levels, with estimates suggesting a car is stolen every 14 minutes. This criminal activity not only affects the victims financially and emotionally, but also poses a broader threat to community safety. Additionally, other related public safety concerns such as street racing, impaired driving, and joy-riding further exacerbate the situation.
H135 helicopters to the rescue
In response to these challenges, the Ontario government has apparently purchased five new police helicopters. Two of the Airbus H135 helicopters will be allocated to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to support Ottawa and Toronto police services; while the remaining three helicopters will be distributed among Durham, Halton, and Peel Regional Police Services.
The addition of these helicopters is intended to significantly bolster the capabilities of local police forces. We’re meant to believe the enhanced surveillance and rapid response capabilities provided by the choppers will help prevent auto theft—but is it just us left wondering how exactly? Police helicopters seldom prevent crime, suggests conventional wisdom, but instead serve to track crimes in progress.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner highlighted the sophisticated nature of modern criminal networks, and the necessity for law enforcement to stay ahead with innovative strategies. The helicopters are therefore envisioned as a critical asset in this ongoing battle against crime. However, we’ve also heard most modern car theft starts with a perpetrator or two posted on the ground near the targeted vehicle at night — and it feels a stretch to suggest a chopper will ever spot and prevent that sort of criminal activity.