A powerful new crime-fighting tool that has already proven its worth in Mississauga and Brampton is set to expand across more of southern Ontario. Peel Regional Police, who partnered with York Regional Police early last year to implement advanced facial recognition technology, are preparing to welcome Halton Regional Police into the fold. The move would create a three-way partnership that dramatically broadens the reach of the cutting-edge investigative system.
In a report to the Peel Police Service Board, Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich revealed that Halton asked to join the initiative in April and would become a “contributing agency” to the shared cloud-based booking image database. He noted that adding Halton would significantly strengthen the system, providing a larger pool of images, more investigative leads, and ultimately safer communities.
“The intent of the program is to increase participation with other police services, increasing the repository of images which creates further efficiencies in suspect identification and enhancing the overall safety of communities,” Milinovich explained. Members of a steering committee overseeing the project have also voiced unanimous support, pointing out that more booking photos across multiple regions would exponentially enhance the technology’s effectiveness.
The Peel Police Service Board, which provides civilian oversight for the force, must officially approve Halton’s participation. If approved, the move marks another step forward in the evolution of modern policing across the GTA.
When Peel first introduced the Idemia-developed technology in May 2024, Milinovich described it as a breakthrough that would allow officers to conduct mugshot searches faster, with fewer errors, and with greater reliability. Beyond accuracy, police officials say the technology streamlines investigations, reduces costs, and strengthens inter-agency collaboration.
The system automates the time-consuming process of comparing images, scanning them against lawfully collected digital evidence already stored in police databases. With more jurisdictions now joining forces, officials believe this advanced investigative tool is poised to change the way police identify suspects and solve crimes across Ontario.