The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), in partnership with the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, is introducing a new dedicated by-law phone number to improve how residents report by-law concerns across Waterloo Region.

The new centralized phone number will provide residents with a direct and efficient way to report by-law matters, without competing with police emergency or non-emergency calls.

Currently, by-law calls requiring a 24/7 response are routed through police non-emergency lines and managed through police communications systems. This has contributed to increased call volumes within police communications, reduced operational efficiency, and heightened privacy concerns.

In 2025, WRPS received 9,649 by-law-related calls, averaging approximately 26 per day.

“Separating by-law and police communications is an important step forward,” said Mark Crowell, Chief of Police, for WRPS. “This change allows our Communications Centre members to focus on urgent police matters, while ensuring residents continue to receive timely and appropriate responses to by-law concerns.”

The new by-law radio channel will also enable by-law officers to communicate without using police radio systems. This separation will reduce congestion on police radio channels, prevent the sharing of non-police information over police communications, and enhance privacy protections while supporting safer and more efficient operations for both services.

The dedicated phone number will also improve data collection and reporting, enabling municipalities and WRPS to better track call volumes, response times, and resource needs for by-law enforcement.

Residents are reminded that emergencies should always be reported by calling 9-1-1. Police non-emergency matters should continue to be reported by calling 519-570-9777. Once launched, all by-law-related concerns should be directed to the new centralized by-law phone number.

The project has been approved by all four partner municipalities and supports a shared commitment to modernizing public safety and municipal services across Waterloo Region.

The new dedicated by-law phone number will go live and be shared on June 22, 2026.