Edmonton Police Chief Dale McPhee
The Alberta government is introducing a series of three new measures it claims will keep repeat and violent offenders off the streets.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery says special teams of prosecutors will be formed to focus on violent crime and criminals in Edmonton and Calgary.
Amery says prosecutors will also be given new direction to argue before judges that violent repeat offenders should either be held in custody or be subject to bail rules that will ensure public safety.
The province has already committed to adding 50 police officers in Edmonton and another 50 in Calgary along with $5 million for each city to make transit rides safer.
On Monday, minister Amery unveiled the measures at a news conference alongside Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, EPS Chief Dale McFee and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis.
Mayor Sohi say’s that the criminal activity and disorder that is happening on our city streets is truly devastating and things must change.
Dale McFee is Chief of the Edmonton Police Service. He explains that violent crime grew by 13 per cent between 2021 and 2022, and EPS is taking a clear stance on the criminality and disorder being directly fed by the drug trade.
Federally, MPs are set to return to the House of Commons next week and will debate bail reform legislation, Bill C-48, that would make it harder for some accused to be conditionally released while awaiting trial.
Comments