(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Prince Albert residents turning to online reporting

Jan 21, 2023 | 9:00 AM

According to the year-end statistics from the Prince Albert Police Service, there was a noticeable jump last in the number of people clicking on the online reporting option.

In total, there 919 online reports received, which was the highest number in the past five years.

The common type of complaint had to do with mischief and wilful damage to vehicles (279), followed by thefts from vehicle under $5,000 (153). Police service spokesperson Charlene Tebbutt told paNOW they encourage residents to use online options, as reports can be submitted at any time of day or night and at residents’ convenience.

“Online options mean residents don’t have to wait for an officer to be available to submit a report,” she said, adding all online reports are reviewed by a police officer who investigates and follows up.

The online reporting option was implemented by the police service in Feb., 2016. In Oct., 2019, the police service enhanced its system to include secure report writing. This allowed an option for a loss prevention officer to have a secure login to report incidents and upload documents such as photos.

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Fast forward to 2022, and a number of new categories were added as reporting options related to break-and-enters and gas-and-go.

“Since shoplifting and gas theft have been added as options, the stats show we have received a number of these types of reports online and the system is being well used,” Tebbutt said.

Tebbutt added online reporting also results in time and cost savings each year for the police service. As a direct result of officers not having to go out in person to take the reports and file, the estimated cost savings was around $50,000, with an estimated 1,383 hours saved.

“We encourage residents to use online reporting as it is convenient, easy, and free,” she said..

In total last year, the police service received 44,235 calls for service. This represented an increase of 7.51 per cent over the previous year. There were 3,928 reports of property crime.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell