COVID-19: Reporting Violations and Inquiries
General Inquires
Any general inquiries regarding COVID-19 can be answered by contacting the City’s Customer Contact Center at 519-759-4150
To report a violation of the provincial or municipal orders, please complete this Online Form or call the City’s Customer Contact Center at 519-759-4150
Brantford Police Service – Public FAQ’s
As the situation related to COVID-19 continues to quickly evolve, the Brantford Police Service has been working closely with our City of Brantford Emergency Management partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the County of Brant, Six Nations, Brant County Health Unit and the Brant Community Healthcare System.
We have been taking advice from public health officials and making decisions that balance our need to provide community safety with maintaining the health and safety of our members.
Policing personnel are conducting active screening, in the course of our duties, for potential risks of COVID-19 with everyone entering our police facility to ensure the safety and well-being of all other individuals.
Currently, there are no changes to our frontline operations.
Police Services
Q. How can I file a police report?
If you have an emergency – an immediate threat to life or property and/or risk to public safety – please call 911.
Non-emergencies can be reported by calling 519-756-0113.
Many incidents can be reported using our online reporting system http://www.brantfordpolice.ca such as Damage to Vehicle or Property under $5,000, Driving Complaints, Traffic Issues or Concerns, Graffiti, or Theft or Fraud Under $5,000.
Q. Can I go to the police station to make a report?
In an effort to protect the health and well-being of our members, we are asking members of the public to refrain from attending the station unless in an emergency situation. Please note that should you need to provide payment for services such as a vulnerable sector check, cash transactions are not being accepted at this time. Payment can be made via debit, mastercard or visa.
Q. How can I get a Criminal Record Check, a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check or a Vulnerable Sector Screening?
At this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our office is not accepting in-person applications for police checks or facilitating civilian fingerprints. During this time, we encourage all applicants to apply for police checks using the Online Police Background Records Check portal. This is located in the "Useful Links" box. All record checks that pass authentication will be automatically mailed out when completed.
Please note: If you are under the age of 21 or have limited credit history, you can still pay for and submit your application online to get the process started. If you fail to authenticate or require fingerprints, we will not be able to complete your application until the office is fully operational again. You may show your employer/volunteer organization your receipt, as proof of your application, and have them refer to our website for confirmation of our limited access.
Until further notice, previously submitted requests, will NOT be available for pick up. Exceptions will be made for those requiring a Vulnerable Sector Check under emergency circumstances.
NEW: Effective November 1, 2018, the new Police Records Check Reform Act is in effect. Due to changes imposed by the legislation, the Brantford Police Service will no longer accept and process police record checks for persons under the age of 18, UNLESS the applicant is applying for a position with a government agency (federal, provincial, or municipal). Eligible young persons must apply in person, not our on-line process.
Please note: you MUST be a current resident of the City of Brantford (taxes paid to the City of Brantford) and your address must be policed by the Brantford Police Service in order to apply through this Police Service. If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply through the Brantford Police Service, please call us at 519-756-0113 ext 3336 for verification as NO REFUNDS will be issued.
Information about Vulnerable Sector Checks can be found online at www.brantfordpolice.ca or by calling 519-756-0113.
Q. Can I pick up my property?
Please contact the Property Unit Clerks by calling 519-756-0113 ext. 2217 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m Monday to Friday regarding any questions you may have and to arrange a suitable time to pick up your property.
Q. I need to attend a Collision Reporting Centre, are they open?
Yes. However, the Collision Reporting Centre has amended hours of operation to 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and are now closed on Saturdays until further notice.
Screening methods have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of the public and their employees. These may include instructing citizens to remain outside in their vehicles to await a CRC staff member, putting restrictions on who can attend, increased sanitization, not handling customer documents, and encouraging social distancing.
Q. How are the Emergency Orders that are now in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19 enforced?
Contraventions of the Emergency Management and Civil Protections Act (EMPCA) and/or City of Brantford By-law violations will result in the attendance of a City By-law Officer or Brant County Health Unit Inspection Officer, supported by a member of Brantford Police Service or Ontario Provincial Police (if warranted).
Should the City of Brantford institute any additional by-laws, they will be enforced by the City of Brantford’s By-law Enforcement Officers and supported by Police, if warranted.
The severity of each infraction in relation to the potential risk to public health and the spread of COVID-19 will be considered when taking enforcement action. Consistent with existing enforcement approaches, a graduated approach to compliance will be implemented. This could include providing educational messaging or warnings to members of the public around the emergency orders and, if compliance is not obtained, the issuance of a ticket under the Part I of the Provincial Offences Act or a summons under Part III of the Act.
Complaints related to self-isolation or quarantine
On March 25, 2020 the Government of Canada invoked the Quarantine Act. This requires all travelers returning to Canada – with the exception of what the federal government is calling "essential workers” – enter a mandatory 14-day period of isolation, regardless of whether any symptoms of COVID-19 are present.
For concerns relating to returning travelers who are not self-isolating and who arrived on or after March 25, please contact Brant County Health Unit at 519-753-4937 and press '1'
To report a violation of the provincial or municipal orders, please complete this Online Form or call the City’s Customer Contact Center at 519-759-4150
For more information about what the City can enforce in priority order, please visit: http://www.Brantford.ca/covid19Violations
Complaints related to non-compliance with physical distancing guidelines on private property (e.g. grocery stores)
Physical distancing of being two metres (six feet) apart from another person is required to control the spread of COVID-19. People should avoid crowds and practice physical distance everywhere, including in open establishments, such as grocery stores.
For complaints relating to people not following the physical distance guideline on private property, please contact Brant County Health Unit at 519-753-4937 and press '1'.
For more information on how to practice physical distancing, visit the BCHU website at: https://www.bchu.org/coronavirus
Q. What is Social Distancing?
In order to decrease transmission of COVID-19, all residents are reminded to practice social distancing. This involves taking steps to minimize close contact with others, including:
- Avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings
- Avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes
- Limiting contact with people at higher risk (e.g. older adults and those in poor health)
- Keeping a distance of at least two arms lengths (approximately two metres or six feet) from others
- Washing hands and often touched spaces frequently
Please be mindful of the members of our community who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. Social distancing is proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness.
Q. What are Police doing to ensure businesses and their property are being protected?
BPS remains committed to providing essential services throughout the community. We recognize that many businesses have temporarily closed due to COVID-19. As always, we will continue proactive patrols and respond to calls for service to ensure the safety and security of our community. If members of the public observe suspicious activity or individuals, near or close to a business, they are encouraged to call police immediately. Reporting crime and providing relevant information allows our investigators to identify suspects and solve crime.
Complaints regarding price gouging
The Province has both an online and telephone option for the public to report incidents of price gouging. Online reports can be made at: https://www.ontario.ca/form/report-price-gouging-related-covid-19 or, consumers can call Consumer Protection Ontario at 1-800-889-9768 between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Monday to Friday.
Businesses who have additional questions
Companies and workplaces that have questions about the temporary closure of all non-essential workplaces related order can call Ontario’s Stop the Spread Business Information Line at 1-888-444-3659
For any other type of business, report your concerns to the City Online for call the City’s Customer Contact Center at 519-759-4150.
For more information about what the City can enforce in priority order, please visit: http://www.Brantford.ca/covid19Violations
Employee Concerns
If you have COVID-19 concerns or questions about your workplace or construction site, please call the Ministry of Labour’s Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008
Q. What should I do if someone comes to my house, calls me or sends a text asking for COVID-19 relief donations or is selling COVID-19 related products and services?
Brantford Police Services reminds the public to be extra vigilant when it comes to those trying to sell or provide products or services associated with COVID-19. Reliable, accurate and up-to-date information is provided through local public health officials. Anyone who believes they have been approached or contacted by someone who is misrepresenting themselves in an effort to sell goods or services should report this to Brantford Police online at http://www.brantfordpolice.ca
Staffing & Screening
Q. Are there enough police officers to keep the city safe?
Brantford Police Service members have been provided with the same direction as the public when it comes to travel, self-isolation, and self-monitoring.
It is not in the interest of community safety for us to disclose our exact deployment numbers but we can say, at this time, this direction has impacted an extremely small number of members and we have not had to make any changes to our frontline policing services.
Prior to COVID-19, the Brantford Police Service had plans in place to address staffing needs during a public crisis or emergency. These plans include repurposing of resources, modifying members’ shifts, and adjusting our service delivery model. All of these steps would allow us to maintain public safety and respond to emergency calls for service. We have not had to make these adjustments to date.
Q. Is the Brantford Police Service screening those in custody?
We will not speak to any specific cases but we can say that every person in police custody is screened at least three times: upon arrest, at the station, and again when they are transported to court by a supervisor. These screenings include such questions as: do you have symptoms, have you travelled, have you been quarantined, etc. We continue to work with our emergency management partners to ensure our screening is the most effective it can be in determining the well-being of people in our custody to prevent possible exposure to our members and those who work along side us in the justice system.
Regarding releasing people rather than remanding, if we can release someone from custody we will, but our priority is on the safety of the public. If necessary, we have and will continue to seek opportunities to limit exposure to those who are in custody and will remain so throughout the court process.
Enforcement Practices
Q. Has there been a reduction in crime or have police officers stopped making arrests?
There has been no change in the operational direction provided to our members.
We are not experiencing a significant change to our calls for service, however; we are asking the public to please not call 9-1-1 unless there is an immediate threat to life or property. Any questions related to COVID-19 should be directed to local public health officials and/or the City’s COVID-19 line at 519-759-4150.
Q. Why do I have to identify myself?
On March 31, 2020, the Government of Ontario made changes that require an individual to identify themselves at the request of a police officer, if there are reasonable grounds to believe the individual is violating an emergency order.
City of Brantford Bylaw Officers and Brant County Health Unit staff continue to lead with monitoring and providing information and education to non-compliant individuals and businesses. The Brantford Police Service will assist with these enforcement efforts, when necessary. This includes visiting establishments that have not complied with the provincial directive and, under each circumstance, using officer discretion to determine the proper action.
There are various options of enforcement, ranging in severity from a $750 ticket to a summons, which upon conviction can result in fines from $100,000 for individuals to $10 million for businesses, to arrests and criminal charges of Obstruct Police.
You are required to identify yourself once the officer has reasonable grounds to lay a charge so the officer can properly issue you a ticket or summons, whichever they deem necessary.
Q. What is the role of the Police?
The role of the police during a pandemic or emergency situation continues to be focused on ensuring public safety, providing public information and education, and enforcing the law in a thoughtful manner. Municipal, provincial, or federal governments may invoke legislation that, in some cases, provides the police with new powers of authority for a defined period of time, usually until the problem being addressed is resolved.
Complaints received by the police about groups or establishments breaching various orders could involve, but are not necessarily limited to, the following actions:
- Receive and assess the complaint to determine if there is a violation of any legislation and/or regulations and if police, public health officials or other entities (such as bylaw officers) are required.
- If a violation of the legislation and/or regulations has been assessed, charges may be laid. However, emphasis is being placed on education to ensure compliance. Enforcement is generally considered as a last resort and is likely to be focused on repeat offenders.
- If a party is found to be guilty of an offence, they could be subject to fines and/or jail time depending on the legislation.
When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible that the police may be called upon to enforce new authorities that have been invoked by various levels of government. There are numerous discussions taking place across the country to determine the best approach to this evolving situation.
Q. How do I find more information about COVID-19?
Ontario has launched a dedicated web page to provide up to date public information with a summary of data from Public Health Ontario that offers expanded information every day at 10:30 a.m. https://covid-19.ontario.ca/
For local information, please visit the Brant County Health Unit website, undated daily at 11am: http://www.bchu.org
Ontario’s COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus
Last Update: December 29, 2020
