Toronto police to hire 80 new constables this year, effectively lifting hiring freeze

Toronto police will recruit 80 new constables this year, the Toronto Police Services Board said in a statement, effectively lifting its hiring freeze.

The board said policewill take on the new recruits becausethe forceis experiencing slightly moreretirements and departuresthan projected bythe Transformational Task Force.

• Toronto police to lift hiring freeze amid concerns of a staffing crunch
• Toronto Police Association launches website warning of a 'staffing crisis'

The task force tableda series of changes to the force in"The Way Forward" report earlier this yearin an effort to bolster community relations.

As a part of its modernization strategy, reviews ofstaffing levels at divisions, within uniform and civilian supervisor roles and the force's communications operations will take place, the board said.

Last month,The Toronto Police Association (TPA) said officers were at a "breaking point," and alluded to a "crisis in staffing levels."

Previously, both Mayor John Tory and Chief Mark Saunders deniedthat the force was ina crisis, but the mayor noted new hires were necessary due to more retirements and departures than anticipated.

The timeline of the hires was not specified.

The hiring and promotion freeze was implemented in January 2016.