By Leah Murray

Alberta MPs creating rural crime task force

Nov 13, 2017 | 3:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT – A dozen members of parliament representing rural ridings in Alberta are coming together to form a rural crime task force.

Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner MP Glen Motz says the plans are still being developed but they hope to work with RCMP, rural municipalities and residents.

This is all being done to address concerns with increasing rural crime rates.

Back in August Redcliff RCMP said they were dealing with around a 50 per cent increase in rural property crime.

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Motz said it’s a problem many areas around the province are dealing with. It’s not just the crime that’s causing concern, he says some of the escalating violence associated with it is also worrisome.

He notes the recent fatal gas and dash in Thorsby as one of many incidents.

“Quite frankly the rural communities aren’t used to the severity of the crime or the volume of crime that’s been happening and so they may feel that they don’t know how or what they should be doing,” said Motz.

The task force is meant to engage people and develop recommendations on crime prevention.

“We just kind of want to be a conduit in this circumstance to make sure that we’ve heard from people and that they feel as if their concerns are being addressed not only at our level but at a community level,” he explained. “[Then] mayors and reeves are aware and there is a process by which we can actually start making some improvements.”

Motz says the task force is setting up meetings with RCMP, municipalities and residents to find out what kind of help and resources they need to deal with the increase in crime.