Starting today, Monday, November 10, 2025, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is officially launching an Artificial Intelligence call processing system that’s designed to handle certain types of non-emergency phone calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

While all 9-1-1 calls will continue to be handled by a Communicator, members of the public who contact our non-emergency phone number will now be greeted by a responsive and adaptive automated voice named SARA (Smart Answering Routing Assistant). Callers will be asked a series of short questions to determine whether their inquiry can be handled by the system, or if it should be transferred to a Communicator. The interaction will be recorded and transcribed in real time.


SARA will immediately transfer the non-emergency call to a Communicator if:

  • the situation evolves into an emergency;
  • the system does not understand the caller;
  • the caller does not speak English and requires translation services;
  • unusual activity or discrepancies are detected, or;
  • the AI system determines it cannot address the caller’s needs.


“For several months, our Communications Bureau and Information Technology Unit has been working in close consultation with the Hyper team to develop, train, and refine SARA, repeatedly testing a wide range of scenarios to confirm it’s able to receive and handle calls appropriately”, said Jeff Hill, Deputy Chief of the Halton Regional Police Service.

“We’re not only confident in SARA’s performance, but we’re proud to be adopting such reliable and cutting-edge technology that will help us reduce the number of non-emergency calls our Communicators spend time on, which at the moment is approximately 160,000 per year.

“This step forward will undoubtedly improve our service to the community by ensuring those who are reporting non-emergencies receive immediate assistance, while affording more resources to our Communicators who can focus on emergency calls that will ultimately enhance public safety.”

Ben Sanders, Hyper’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Halton is proving what’s possible when public safety embraces innovation. With their new AI agent, SARA, residents get faster service, Communicators get more time for emergency calls, and together, we can make the community safer.”


Which phone number should I call?
Emergency (9-1-1):
Members of the public should call 9-1-1 in an emergency, which includes situations where lives are at risk and/or there is severe bodily injury; when the loss or destruction of property is at risk; or if a crime is in progress or has just occurred. This includes impaired driving, collisions causing injuries, fire and medical emergencies, robbery, domestic disturbances with violence, assault, and break and enters.

Non-emergency (905) 825-4777:
Members of the public should call our non-emergency number when a crime has occurred that requires police but the crime is not in progress; there is no immediate threat to public safety or property, and there are no bodily injuries; they wish to make a report; to request police information or advice; and/or to reach any member of the HRPS.

Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS):
To provide information to the police anonymously, call or text Crime Stoppers, or visit their website by clicking here.


Those who dial 9-1-1 in error are asked to remain on the line until they have spoken to a Communicator who will confirm that they do not require police assistance.


About the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS):
The HRPS is the ninth largest police service in Ontario, proudly providing frontline and investigative support to more than 672,000 area residents. Our jurisdiction is the fastest-growing region in the GTA and is expected to reach a population of 897,000 by 2031. 


About Hyper
Hyper is a public safety technology company building advanced AI voice systems designed specifically for 9-1-1 and non-emergency police communications. Its platform helps emergency communication centers reduce wait times, increase efficiency, and improve service to the public by automatically handling routine calls while ensuring urgent calls reach human Communicators immediately. Founded by engineers and former public servants, Hyper partners with leading agencies across North America to make emergency response faster, smarter, and more accessible for everyone.  


Media Inquiries:
Halton Regional Police Service
Media Relations
Phone: 905-825-4899
Email: corpcomm@haltonpolice.ca