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By Ben Tompkins

Community Policing

Melfort RCMP encouraging locals to subscribe to Sask Crime Watch Advisory Network

Nov 3, 2023 | 5:34 PM

The Melfort RCMP detachment is trying to increase community relations by sharing more details of their day-to-day ongoings.

This would be done through the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network, which shares up-to-date information in a timely fashion.

Similar to an amber alert, a person could subscribe to receive texts, calls, emails, and more about less serious or impending crimes or activities.

Some examples would be stolen property, break-and-enters, or reports of suspicious people and their actions.

“It’s one more tool that we have to communicate to the public in a very quick and efficient manner,” explained Ryan Case, Melfort Detachment Commander. “It’s not just to try and solve crime, but it’s also for citizens, they get to know what is happening in their areas, and we have that ability to send out messages for safety issues as well.”

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Police are encouraging everyone to join the network, such as residents, corporations, and organizations.

It’s also noted that one does not need to be part of an existing crime prevention group to sign up and that even those already a part of an existing group should sign up too.

The concept of the program is simple: sign up to receive advisories from your local RCMP and assist them by serving as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the community.

“This network, along with existing crime prevention programs and strategies, helps to create an environment where all of us contribute to community safety,” read a statement from the Saskatchewan RCMP. “Crime prevention is the most effective when we all work together.”

Advisories are not media releases per se but given their public nature, they will also serve this purpose for an investigation by containing only ‘credible’ and ‘timely’ information where the public might be able to help prevent or solve a crime.

“The vision is to build and maintain a robust and modern crime prevention network, one that effectively leverages today’s telecommunication and smartphone technology, to connect the police more directly to the public,” the statement added.

“The network is to be inclusive of all people and communities, such that everyone can contribute in a positive way to ensuring a safe and secure Saskatchewan.”

Signing up to be part of the network is free and only takes a few minutes, as you choose which RCMP detachment areas you want to receive notifications from and how you want to receive them.

The Melfort area/detachment currently has just over 2,000 subscribers and are hoping to push that number to around 5,000.

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