The province announced Thursday the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network is expanding to central and northern Saskatchewan.
Initially launched in March in southern Saskatchewan, now even more of the province will see the benefits of the service. Within this network, RCMP detachment commanders send text messages, emails or phone calls to residents with information about criminal activity. Residents can then contact the police with tips related to the advisory.
Approximately $50,000 is being provided by the government of Saskatchewan to the RCMP to operate it. People can sign up by visiting www.saskcrimewatch.ca.
“People are the eyes and ears of a community,” Battlefords MLA Herb Cox said in a statement, on behalf of Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell.
“Every new person who signs up for the program boosts the reach of the network, allowing the RCMP to more effectively communicate with rural residents about crime in their area.”
“This now wide-reaching network, coupled with our existing crime prevention programs and strategies, has created an environment where we are all able to contribute to community safety,” Saskatchewan RCMP Commanding Officer Assistant Commissioner Mark Fisher said in a statement.
Organizations representing municipalities welcomed the announcement.
“Expanding the advisory network means residents in all of our hometowns can now sign up and receive reliable information directly from the RCMP,” was the reaction from Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association President Gordon Barnhart.
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities President Ray Orb said "crime prevention is key in ensuring our rural communities are a safe place to call home, and it takes all of us working together to do that.”
