RCMP crime reduction teams already making a difference in ‘hot spots’: official
Two teams with a mandate to help lower the amount of illegal activity across Saskatchewan are fully operational — and the provincial government says they are already helping bring down crime rates.
Based out of North Battleford and Prince Albert, crime reduction teams (CRT) are dispatched to conduct “high-intensity, targeted enforcement” in areas that have been identified as crime “hot spots,” according to RCMP.
“Communities where the CRT has deployed have told us the increased police presence was both visible and appreciated,” said RCMP Insp. Tammy Patterson, the officer in charge of the crime reduction and prevention unit, in a statement.
“People are noticing an impact and feel their communities are safer for it. We look forward to seeing what more the CRTS can accomplish in the weeks and months ahead.”
When CRTS were deployed in the North Battleford area Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, 18 arrest warrants were executed in relation to 51 Criminal Code charges.
In total, 27 arrests were made and 25 Criminal Code charges were laid. Officers conducted 44 traffic stops, leading to four tickets, 21 warnings and two suspensions.
The initiative was introduced in 2017 when Saskatchewan RCMP began conducting targeted enforcement initiatives to help detachments address serious and violent crime in areas where community safety was identified as an issue.
Positive results led to RCMP’S “F” Division conducting a threemonth trial run of the teams between February and April 2018. With support from the provincial government, the decision was made to fund the teams full time.
“The crime reduction team (CRT) initiative has helped to improve safety in Saskatchewan communities, which is a priority for the government,” said minister of corrections and policing Christine Tell.
“We are proud to support the RCMP and to work with them on strategies that aim to stop crime.”
Teams are not designed to replace the work done by detachments, but instead to enhance the work already being done to ensure a coordinated response to rural crime, RCMP said.
Each of the teams is made up of seven full-time members along with one crime analyst and a support-admin position.
Communities where the CRT has deployed have told us the increased police presence was both visible and appreciated.