RCMP launches crime watch advisory system in southern Sask.

Residents in southern Saskatchewan can now be notified in a more timely manner about the crimes being committed in their communities.

On Thursday, the Saskatchewan RCMP launched the new provincial crime watch advisory network as an 18-month pilot project.

Residents can sign up to receive advisories via text, email or phone call from a list of detachments from which they can choose. Only southern detachments can be chosen during the pilot project, with plans to eventually expand province-wide.

Detachment commanders will be able to use the new system to quickly send information about crimes in their jurisdictions to residents.

“Whether that’s a crime that happened 10 days ago or it’s a crime that happened five minutes ago, I think we should consider it a tool,” said Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Assistant Commissioner Mark Fisher.

Fisher said the system will not only give residents a greater awareness of what kind of crimes are occurring but will allow them to quickly respond with tips to police.

“This tool, particularly in this day and age of social media, allows us to have a platform to get out information that is timely, that is credible and informed and deal with issues in a much more timely manner than we have been able to in the past,” he said.

When asked if there were any concerns about residents taking this information and using it for vigilantism, Fisher said he’s confident the people of Saskatchewan would not take matters into their own hands.

“I think most people would be very responsible when they have that information in hand and (would have) the right response as far as contacting police and letting them do their jobs,” said Fisher.

Ray Orb, the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, echoed that view.

“We would be appalled if that would happen,” he said.

FSIN Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat is looking forward to the program being made available in northern Saskatchewan. He said at this point, he does not have any concerns about racism if the person in question in the crime is aboriginal but added “time will tell.”

“It’s another initiative that certainly goes a long way toward safer communities,” said Lerat.

Anyone can sign up to receive a crime watch advisory, but the RCMP said if there is a cause for concern or if officers find someone using the information toward vigilantism, the RCMP has the ability to remove that user from the system.

While the service is aimed at rural areas, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association president Gordon Barnhart said it will also help in urban communities.

“I don’t want there to be a misapprehension that this is covering just the farms or farmers,” he said. “We’re very proud supporters of this program as well.”

Before expanding the program to other areas in the province, the RCMP will evaluate its popularity and effectiveness.

“We’ll be looking for success stories on how this tool allowed us to engage earlier, to focus our investigations and our response to crimes in communities,” Fisher said.

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $50,000 to the RCMP to launch the system.

Residents can create an account and sign up for crime watch advisories here.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comments from the FSIN and SUMA.