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Proof the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Network is working

One of the advents that we’ve praised within these pages several times this year has been the RCMP Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network. It started earlier this year in southern Saskatchewan.

One of the advents that we’ve praised within these pages several times this year has been the RCMP Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network.

It started earlier this year in southern Saskatchewan. People could sign up to receive text and/or email updates from RCMP detachments in case a crime occurred. 

There have been some kinks to be worked out, and a few times messages sent through the network have proven to be unfounded. But it has generally been an effective tool for law enforcement, and a link between police and the public.

It has also produced some positive results. The Estevan RCMP was able to solve a case of trailer thefts because people received these notifications. (Some good, old-fashioned police work also contributed to the arrests).

Then there was the case of a vehicle stolen from Alameda on Canada Day. The Carnduff RCMP had the notification out to the public within an hour of it happening. An arrest was eventually made.

The system has been expanded to RCMP detachments across the province.

And now we’re seeing this system move to the next level.

The Estevan Police Service has agreed to be the first municipal police agency in Saskatchewan to be part of the crime watch advisory network. It’ll work just like it does for the rural RCMP detachments: if a crime is committed, say a theft or a break and enter, or if there’s a suspicious vehicle or other suspicious activity, a notification will be sent to the public.

While the Estevan Police Service has done a very good job in the community, they can always use more assistance from the public.  

If an incident happens, and the EPS can get it out to the public quickly – faster than through a conventional press release – then it increases the chance of having resolution to that incident.

And this crime watch network might actually be more effective in a municipal policing setting. While it’s been a great tool for the RCMP, the odds of someone seeing something in a sparsely populated rural that leads to an arrest are fairly low.

It’s great that the RCMP reaches out to the public and keeps them informed, but it’s unlikely that someone saw a theft or a mischief occurring.

In a city, though, the odds are higher that someone might have seen that type of incident happen. They might not think much of something when they see it initially, but if they receive one of these notifications, they might realize that something has happened, and it might lead to a call to police that could lead to an arrest.

You’re not likely going to see the more serious crimes being released to the public through this notification system, such as a homicide. That information will still come through the more conventional press release, since they afford more depth.

Most notifications through the crime watch have only been a few dozen words in length. They usually provide just the facts.

We have yet to see a notification for a collision, either, but vehicle accidents are not why this system was created.

It should be more effective than the EPS Twitter account, too, because people will become aware when they receive the notification on their phone or their computer. It’s a more instantaneous system.  

The crime watch system has worked well for the RCMP. We’re confident that it will work well in Estevan, too.

Before too long, other municipal policing services in the province will likely be announcing that they have joined up with the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Notification system, too.