Toronto police union decries Liberal catch-and-release rules

The Toronto Police Association has taken to social media to voice its frustration and concern over the catch-and-release criminal justice system instituted by the Liberals.

Source: Facebook

The Toronto Police Association has taken to social media to voice its frustration and concern over the catch-and-release criminal justice system instituted by the Liberals.

“No surprise we’ve learned the two guns seized in (TPA Division 22) belonged to a man on a release order for 14 charges including forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, and firearms offences,” the organization wrote in an X post of Wednesday.

“Maybe with an additional 19 charges laid, someone will keep him in custody,” the post continued before concluding with a hashtag on bail reform.

The post reflects growing frustration within the policing community over the Liberal government’s lax handling of repeat offenders and radical amendments to the Criminal Code, particularly with respect to bail provisions.

The changes were presented as part of broader justice reforms aimed at enhancing fairness and reducing unnecessary pretrial detentions.

However, critics argue that the revisions, which include easing restrictions for repeat offenders and broadening the grounds for bail release, have contributed to a rise in criminal activity, particularly violent crime.

In particular, one of the key legislative changes was Bill C-75, passed by the Liberal government in 2019. The bill aimed to modernize and streamline the bail process, with a focus on reducing the overrepresentation of Indigenous and marginalized individuals in pre-trial detention.

Among its most significant provisions was a requirement for judges and justices of the peace to consider release at the “least onerous” conditions possible, and to prioritize release over detention in many cases.

Bill C-75 also codified a “principle of restraint” for police and courts, requiring that the circumstances of Indigenous and vulnerable populations be taken into account in bail decisions.

In cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, police have reported a notable uptick in crimes such as carjackings, robberies, and assaults, which they attribute to repeat offenders being granted bail under the new system.