BARRHEAD - The United Conservative Party (UCP) government has successfully followed through with several aspects of a provincial strategy to combat rural crime, though the expansion of the authorities of peace officers to assist RCMP and other police in emergencies may be impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer announced the new rural crime plan back in November 2019, saying “We are sending a strong signal to rural Albertans who have been victimized for far too long."
“We have listened to you. We have heard you. And we are standing with you. We want to ensure you know that we are going to do everything we can as a provincial government to help you feel safe in your communities.”
The centerpiece of the plan was the creation of a new Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence (RAPID) Force by expanding the roles and authorities of 400 peace officers in the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Branch and the traffic arm of the Alberta Sheriffs.
The members of this new force would respond to a wider range of calls to assist the RCMP and other police services in some emergencies. The first of these officers were supposed to be in place by fall 2020.
Jason van Rassel, communications advisor for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, said there has been continued progress on this aspect of the crime plan, which has been re-branded as RAPID Response.
“We have changed the name to RAPID Response, in part, to better reflect that the initiative for existing provincial peace officers in the Alberta Sheriffs, as opposed to a new organization,” he said.
van Rassel said the situation remains fluid due to the pandemic, but they are still hoping to meet existing timelines and launch Phase 1 of RAPID Response later this year, which will entail giving Fish and Wildlife officers the ability to answer calls for assistance from RCMP in emergencies.
Phase 2 involves giving the Sheriff Highway Patrol the authority to respond to a wider range of traffic calls like collisions and impaired driving, which in turn will allow the RCMP to put more focus on criminal activity. That phase is slated to begin in spring 2021.
Curbing metal theft
Another aspect of the crime plan was cracking down on metal theft by making it more difficult for criminals to monetize their stolen merchandise.
While the Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Identification Act had been passed in 2012, the plan called for finally introducing regulations outlining requirements for dealers and recyclers to obtain proof of identification from sellers and to record details of transactions by spring 2020.
Those regulations were eventually put in place, and as of Sept. 1, 2020, dealers are now required to obtain proof of identification from sellers and to keep a record of transactions.
van Rassel also said more requirements went into force on Nov. 1 mandating that scrap metal dealers must enter transaction details into a database monitored by law enforement.
Also, they are now required to make payments using traceable forms of currency, such as e-transfers or cheques.
“These additional measures will help police investigations and give authorities a way of locating criminals selling stolen goods,” van Rassel said.
Victims of crime
The plan also mandated the creation of two new programs meant to help victims of crime.
Ina Lucilla, communications advisor with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, said the new Restitution Recovery Program was launched earlier this year.
The program actually collects restitution on the behalf of victims related to lost wages, lost property, moving expenses or the costs associated with getting help for physical or psychological harm. Victims have the opportunity to opt into the program when they fill out a Statement on Restitution.
In accordance with the plan, the province created new community impact statement forms to give groups of people the opportunity to let a judge know how their community has been affected because of a crime.
“The voluntary statement is submitted by the community’s representative and can be read out in court when the offender is sentenced,” Lucilla said.
Finally, the plan called for eliminating the liability of law-abiding property owners against trespassers who are (or are believed to be) in commission of a criminal act.
Bill 27, the Trepass Statutes Amendment Act, passed all three readings in November 2019 and received royal assent on Dec. 5.
It amended the Occupiers’ Liability Act to state that occupiers do not owe a duty of care to trespassers on an occupier’s premises, and an occupier is not liable for the death of/injury to a trespasser unless the conduct of the occupier is willful and grossly disproportionate given the circumstances.
