Saskatoon police hope a new smartphone app will help people report and track crime their neighbourhoods.
On Thursday police launched an app containing a mobile map of crime trends, an online reporting tool and other features aimed at getting the public more engaged with city police.
“Everything you want to know about the Saskatoon Police Service is now at your fingertips,” Chief Clive Weighill said at a news conference, calling it “essentially a one-stop shop for finding what you need as it relates to the SPS.”
The app, which is available on the iOS App Store and Google Play Marketplace, allows people to report crimes to Crime Stoppers and the police online and, in some cases, anonymously. The mobile map lists all crimes reported in the city on the previous day in a readable, clickable map so people can see crime trends where they live.
“Technology since I started has come a long way,” Weighill said.
The app also contains a tool allowing people to make online reports for non-emergency crimes like break-ins or small thefts.
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Crime Stoppers president Mark Dolan said the agency has seen a spike in online reporting and the ease of the new mobile app will hopefully lead to even more tips.
The app links to the Saskatoon Police Service Facebook page and Twitter feed, has an option to sign up for alerts and news releases and also features a directory of phone numbers. There is also a page of missing persons cases and the city’s most wanted.
Police said the app has been under development “for months.”
“We are always trying to be more transparent and accessible and the app is part of that,” said police spokeswoman Kelsie Fraser, who was responsible for helping develop the app.
