(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Making Reporting Easier

P.A. police prioritizing online crime reporting

Nov 24, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The Prince Albert Police Service (PAPS) believes they’ve taken a step forward in helping residents report crime more easily.

They’re now prioritizing online reporting for several different crimes. This includes scams, theft under $5,000, shoplifting, mischief, graffiti, and break-and-enter on secondary buildings.

They’re doing this through the newly formed Alternative Call Response (ACR) model.

“It goes into a special cue where officers who’re assigned to the ACR, working in our building, will then pick up the telephone and contact the complainant, engage with the complainant, and make sure we’re getting the most prevalent information,” said Patrick Nogier, Prince Albert’s Police Chief.

Right now, three officers are currently assigned to the ACR. Nogier explained they will have at least two officers assigned at all times.

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Sometimes situations call for an officer to be at the scene. Nogier said if that’s the case, it’ll happen.

“We want the public to be reinsured that in all circumstances that they do really need police intervention we’ll be there,” he added.

Along with making reporting easier for residents, PAPS believes this will help reduce the workload on frontline workers.

“We were asking a lot for them to go to everything to everyone all the time. We started noticing that takes a toll… it takes a toll on a person’s psyche, it takes a toll on the ability to make sure that you’re doing a very competent investigation,” said Nogier.

The ACR model was given a soft launch back in May and since then, frontline workers have had to respond to around 1,000 fewer calls. Nogier believes this number is only going to go up now that the model is fully implemented.

“When you start calculating all the time it takes for an officer to around town, get the same information, and get back to the station to report it,” he said.

Nogier added fewer in-person responses will also save the city some money.

This initiative was a recommendation from a special inquiry tasked with looking into the day-to-day operations of PAPS.

Meanwhile, people can access the online reporting system on the P.A. police’s website.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @princealbertnow