Niagara Regional council has approved this year's police budget.
The budget includes a six percent spending increase that will allow the force to hire two dedicated foot patrol officers for downtown St. Catharines.
The force also plans to hire additional officers for the Sexual Assault Unit, two more school resource officers, as well as create a Human Trafficking Unit.
The NRP is also adding a fulltime Corporate Clinical Psychologist in what is says is its ongoing commitment to officers mental health.
In addtion, Regional council has given the greenlight to a new station in St. Catharines at the corner of Welland and Geneva Street.
The overall operating budget stands at close to $147 million dollars with a capital budget of $3 million.