FCP touts using drones to fight rural crime

The Freedom Conservative Party rolled out a rural crime prevention strategy Wednesday that includes using drones and launching satellite police stations.

“Even when the police aren’t available, you can still have that aerial presence and it’s not going to take a helicopter crew to do that,” said leader David White at a Wednesday news conference.

He said the ideas for the plan stemmed out of a town hall in Conklin Sunday, and estimated around 15 people attended.

Earlier this month, the RCMP released a report following up on a seven-point plan in 2018. Mounties said property crime rates have dropped by 9.8 per cent in rural detachments and another 6.1 per cent in municipalities. White said the idea for satellite police stations included setting up modified trailers as mobile bases.

WORLD DAY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer said new legislation will help to combat human trafficking.

“Everyone has the right to live with dignity and freedom. Human trafficking strips people of that right. It turns them into commodities,” he said in a statement issued Tuesday, which was the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Ahead of the April election, the UCP outlined a nine-point plan to fight human trafficking, with steps including the creation of a provincial task force and the introduction of legislation. The bill would allow victims to get restraining orders against their traffickers and to sue them.

In February, Premier Jason Kenney said the plan is aimed at preventing trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers.

The Saving the Girl Next Door Act, modelled on a 2016 Ontario bill, is expected in the fall.