The recommendation will go up before the Police Services Board on Wednesday

The task force would include members of the RCMP, OPP and Toronto police to facilitate intelligence sharing between them

City council moved a motion to ask the police board to consider creating a "places of worship security task force"

The Police Services Board will consider the possibility of creating a special task force for issues related to security around places of worship in Toronto at its next board meeting on Wednesday.

The concept was put forth in a motion at city council by Coun. Mike Colle and seconded by Coun. James Pasternak back in May.

In the motion that was carried, the two councillors recommended that council ask the police board to consider and report back about the feasibility of establishing a “places of worship security task force.” The proposed task force would examine security, safety and public safety issues in places of worship.

They also recommended asking the board what role the task force might play in creating a security plan for Toronto’s places of worship, what its mandate should be and who should be involved – including working with city divisions, agencies and provincial and federal governments.

Colle says the necessity for such a task force is an “ugly new reality” in the wake of hate fueled tragedies seen around the world.

There have been a number of attacks on places of worship worldwide this year, including:

“This task force would be made up of representatives from the RCMP, the OPP and Toronto police to share information and share intelligence about these hate groups and possible threats that they may be aware of that are posed to places of worship,” says Colle. “[This is] to make sure we don’t wait till it’s too late, that we do things in advance – enhancing security, enhancing intelligence sharing in a coordinated way between these three police forces.”

Noah Shack, Vice President at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) says anything that can be done to enhance the security of people at prayer is a positive step in the right direction.

“We’ve seen synagogue shootings just south of the border – this is something that is stoking a lot of fear. A lot of our synagogues have hired paid-duty police officers to provide armed security for the high holiday season,” he says.

In the agenda for Wednesday’s police board meeting, board Chair Andy Pringle recommends that police chief Mark Saunders report to the board about what measures are currently in place to address such security and community safety issues regarding places of worship and whether the chief believes a new task force would enhance the current approach.

Once Saunders provides a report, it will then be sent back to city council’s executive committee.