The Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) should not have to bear the costs of police presence during major events like the Grand Prix or the Feux Loto-Québec, which take place in the metropolis, believes Fady Dagher. Before the Committee on Finance and Administration on Monday, the director of the SPVM indicated that reflection was necessary regarding this issue, responsible for part of the overtime worked by the police.
In 2023, police overtime represented a bill of 80.4 million, or 42 million more than forecasts. And Fady Dagher expects that the use of overtime will still lead to a deficit of the same order in 2024.
Part of this bill is attributable to the order service which represents an expense of seven to ten million dollars for the SPVM, specified Mr. Dagher. During the presentation of the SPVM budget before the commission, the police chief argued that it was time to review this formula and consider that promoters themselves assume the costs of security surrounding the events they organize.
“Major events in Montreal cost a fortune. Montreal is a festive city. So much the better and we want it to remain festive, but should these costs be assumed by the police force itself? » he asked. “Police services are an issue that we will have to look at in the coming year. Some cities in Canada work differently. Security services are not charged to the City. They are charged to the promoters, while for us, they are included in the SPVM budget. »
He notably cited the cases of use of police officers during events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the fireworks presented by Loto-Québec at La Ronde each year which could be called into question.
“Huge” cost of overtime
To reduce the use of overtime, the SPVM is already examining certain measures such as revising the availability of police officers in the event of an emergency, which represents a bill of 3.7 million, or the assignment of police officers to control fires. of traffic around construction sites, which costs the SPVM 9 million. “We want to review the service offering. This is not about closing a neighborhood post. Rather, it’s about reviewing certain services that we offer that perhaps we shouldn’t even offer. […] The police should be busy doing other things, much more at the intervention level. »
The police chief, however, assured that the police presence would not be called into question to ensure public safety on the sidelines of events such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since October 7, the date of the Hamas attack on Israel, the visibility operation and the investigations carried out by the SPVM have cost $1.7 million in overtime, he indicated. “1.7 million in a month and a half is huge. But that’s the reality,” he said.
Fady Dagher hopes that the recruitment efforts deployed in recent months will make it possible to reduce the use of overtime after 2024.
Further details will follow.