SUBSCRIBE: Missing news on social media? Subscribe to CHAT News Today's DAILY newsletter and stay up to date with your city.

Police create Internet Transaction Zone

Aug 25, 2017 | 4:10 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Medicine Hat Police Service has unveiled a new initiative to allow residents to conduct online sales safely.

Police have set up an Internet Transaction Zone in front of the police station. It allows residents to conduct legitimate purchases or sales in a public location, such as a Kijiji ad.

The zone is also available to be used for other legitimate exchanges, including child custody exchanges by parents. The zone is clearly marked and is under continued video surveillance, which is recorded, in case anything goes wrong.

Sgt. Mike Fisher with the Medicine Hat Police Service says the goal is to reduce the risk for the public while they’re conducting business.

“I’m sure that there is a lot of people who are out there conducting legitimate transactions safely, we just want to be another resource, to help reduce risk if there is anything out there” he said. “We don’t have a whole lot of reports of things happening, but if we can be part of a solution, we’re more than happy to do so.”

Although police officers do not normally witness or mediate private transactions, should one of the parties request an officer, one will respond. The Medicine Hat Police Service say they assume no liability for people using this zone and officers will only intervene if the transaction becomes a criminal matter.

Police remind people to be safe when conducting transactions, including communicating via email to ensure a record is kept, don’t carry large sums of cash, and don’t go alone to transactions.