Crime is down across Norfolk County in 2025, thanks to a sharp rise in police patrols. Norfolk OPP Staff Sgt. Catherine Braceland shared the positive news during the detachment board meeting in mid July.
Between January and June 2025, overdoses dropped by 50 percent, property crimes fell 31.6 percent, violent crimes declined 23.4 percent, and vehicle collisions went down 20 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
Police presence has greatly increased this year. Officers logged 3,023 patrol hours so far in 2025, up from 1,688 in all of 2024. Foot patrol hours nearly doubled, and bike patrols jumped from just 6.5 hours to 69 hours following a bicycle course held in May.
Norfolk Councillor Kim Huffman, commented she had seen “officers on bikes and that’s a welcome scene.”
Braceland also reported no major issues during the Friday the 13th rally in Port Dover this past June. Police are now preparing for next year’s three off-season motorcycle rallies.
Written by Jeremy Hall