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Hamilton police request $12M budget increase for 2023

Hamilton’s police services board is asking the city for a $12 million budget increase for next year, which is a total of $195.85 million.
Chief Frank Bergen presented the 2023 budget and it was approved during the board meeting on Dec. 15.
In regards to the budget, Bergen explained how the majority of the funds are employee-related costs, including salaries, benefits and collective agreement increases. This totals to $7.85 million of the entire request.
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He said that 13 sworn officers and 18 new civilian members will be hired.
Bergen provided examples of how costs add up, such as a spike in police responses for shootings and motor-vehicle fatalities.
During the meeting, Bergen also presented a graph indicating that Hamilton ranks fifth in Ontario on the violent crime severity index.
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However, homicides in Hamilton have been at their lowest this year with only five reported so far. In 2020, there were 18 homicides and in 2021 there were 20 homicides.
On the other hand, there has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of “crime guns” seized by police.