(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Request to province

City turned down for SCAN satellite office

Jan 12, 2023 | 1:25 PM

The City of North Battleford was turned down by the province for its request to have a Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) satellite office established in the Battlefords.

The city aimed to bring a SCAN investigation unit here to focus on the Battlefords area.

SCAN, which investigates properties where illegal activity is taking place, currently has units stationed in Prince Albert and Saskatoon, as well as one in Regina.

While the organization does cover the full region, local council believes it would be an advantage if SCAN had members dedicated to the Battlefords, to help reduce crime and make the community safer.

Saskatchewan Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Christine Tell indicated in a letter that the city will not receive a SCAN satellite office at this time. She said the SCAN units in the province do conduct investigations throughout Saskatchewan including the Battlefords, adding that to date SCAN investigated 12 files in North Battleford and another 13 in Battleford. Tell said, as previously announced, the Battlefords will receive a second Crime Reduction Team (CRT). The province is also working on implementing a new Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) in the province, that will focus on areas with high crime rates.

SJHL VS. MJHL

Western All-Star Showcase gets underway tonight

4h ago

Kevin R Profile

Kevin Russell seeks third term as Battleford councillor

5h ago

Typhoid

Pizza in Martensville contaminated with Typhoid

6h ago

“We recognize the challenges North Battleford has with crime..,” Tell said. “Based on current successes, we anticipate the second CRT will have a significant impact, not only for North Battleford but for the surrounding areas, as well.”

Coun. Bill Ironstand voiced his concerns about the city not getting approved by the province for a SCAN unit, in response to the letter.

“Being denied by the provincial government is not a good thing…,” he said. “[With] the crime rate in our district area, the numbers completely warrant this in our region. And the provincial government snubbed us and bypassed us.”

Mayor David Gillan said the city will continue to work to bring more resources here to combat crime.

“We’ll talk about this [SCAN] in another year and see if it warrants another letter…,” he said. “We’ve got a number of initiatives we’re working on in the city on the safety side. It’s good we got the second Crime Reduction Team. Nobody else got that. So there is progress… [But] we always continue to request resources.”

Battlefords area residents also do have the option to contact SCAN directly when they suspect criminal activity in their neighbourhood.

The SCAN team deals with problem properties using civil process under the SCAN legislation established through the province.

–

angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW