Belleville Police Service Highlights Growing Challenges with Provincial Offences Act (POA) Case Backlogs
BELLEVILLE, ON – The Belleville Police Service is raising concerns about a growing backlog of Provincial Offences Act (POA) matters in Hastings County. These delays are now directly preventing timely justice, undercutting public confidence, and wasting the significant time and resources invested by Belleville Police officers. Significant delays in judicial availability are preventing POA matters from moving forward within expected timeframes. As cases reach the 15-month limit set by provincial guidelines, they must be withdrawn. Belleville officers’ complete investigations and meet every obligation, only to have cases dismissed because no judicial time is available. With only 85 judicial sitting days per year in Hastings County, timely scheduling is extremely limited. Early Resolution meetings cannot occur without a Justice of the Peace, and informal resolution options used in other jurisdictions are not available locally. While the Province is considering reforms such as allowing court clerks to accept guilty pleas, these measures