Decision Regarding Findings Report INV-24-7 Concerning Policing Provided by the
Ottawa Police Service
Decision By: Ryan Teschner, Inspector General of Policing
I. INTRODUCTION
1This decision addresses a complaint received by the Inspector General of Policing against the Ottawa Police Service (“OPS”), alleging that the OPS is not doing enough to address incidents of bicycle theft. An inspector with Ontario’s Inspectorate of Policing (“IoP”) investigated the complaint to determine whether OPS or the Ottawa Police Service Board (“OPSB”) failed to comply with the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, SO 2019, c 1, Sch 1 (the “Act”) or its regulations in relation to the complaint.1
2Following a review of the inspector’s Findings Report,2 which is attached to this Decision as Appendix A, and for the reasons that follow, I conclude that OPS and the OPSB have complied with the Act and the regulations and have delivered adequate and effective policing as it relates to this matter.
II. BACKGROUND
3The complainant alleges that the OPS has failed to adequately address increased instances of bicycle thefts in downtown Ottawa.
4The complainant attributes the increased incidents of bicycle theft to individuals associated with encampments in the area and to the opioid crisis. She has observed expensive bicycles at missions and does not believe those who reside or drop in there could afford these bicycles. The complainant has also seen a number of bicycle “chop shops” emerge in the area near some of these missions.
5The complainant also reports that she has had two of her own bicycles stolen from her condominium.
6During the IoP’s investigation, the OPS provided data related to their investigation of bicycle thefts from 2019 to 2025. This data indicates that the OPS has successfully recovered / found over 60% of bicycles that have been reported stolen by members of the public.
7The OPS has also implemented the “529 Garage” program after researching successful initiatives in other jurisdictions related to bicycle theft, and identifying a similar one that the Vancouver Police Department uses. Garage 529 is a virtual, app-based bicycle registration program which allows users to register their bicycles through their smartphones. Similar to a motor vehicle, the intent of “529 Garage” is to use registration as a tool to make it easier to recover a stolen bicycle, because certain details about the bicycle and its owner will be known when the police are contacted.
III. ISSUES
8The sole issue for consideration is whether the OPS and OPSB have provided “adequate and effective” policing related to bicycle theft – the matter at issue in this complaint.
IV. ANALYSIS
a) The requirement to deliver “adequate and effective” policing
9Section 10(1) of the Act requires police service boards in Ontario, including the OPSB, to provide “adequate and effective” policing in their area of responsibility.
10Section 11(1) of the Act defines “adequate and effective” policing as policing functions, including crime prevention and law enforcement, provided in accordance with standards set out in the Act’s regulations, among other requirements:
(1) Adequate and effective policing means all of the following functions provided in accordance with the standards set out in the regulations, including the standards with respect to the avoidance of conflicts of interest, and with the requirements of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Code:
Crime prevention.
Law enforcement.
Maintaining the public peace.
Emergency response.
Assistance to victims of crime.
Any other prescribed policing functions.
a. There is no evidence of a systemic failure to provide adequate and effective policing related to bicycle thefts
11In this case, it is the policing functions of crime prevention and