Some areas of crime have increased since the restrictions from fighting the transmission of COVID-19 and others have gone down.
Saskatoon Police Chief Troy Cooper says when businesses and services were closed and everyone was asked to stay home, officers received fewer mental health calls.
In fact 20 per cent fewer calls were coming in.
He’s not sure why, but wonders if it has anything to do with people being at home so possibly the person would be getting more support.
However in the past few weeks as the weather warmed up and businesses are reopening, Cooper says mental health calls are gradually rising again.
Domestic violence calls have increased by 10 per cent since March 11th.
That’s an additional 125 calls over 10 weeks.
Violent crimes have gone down a bit, and most notably Cooper says there has been a significant reduction in sexual violence.
Property crime is down, which Cooper expects is because everyone is home.
There have been about 400 non-compliance calls reported to police in regards to the COVID-19 public health orders.
Most of the calls are about groups of over 10 people gathering and there has been an increase in non-compliance since the weather changed.
When officers attend though, the groups are either smaller than 10, they have dispersed, or they comply with the orders.
Few tickets for non-compliance have been handed out in Saskatchewan and none in Saskatoon.
Chief Cooper adds that along with businesses and services reopening on Tuesday, so did police headquarters, although if possible, calls are preferred.
Criminal record checks and the lost and found are open at the headquarters on 25th Street.














