A rapid decline in Swift Current for provincial traffic offences can be linked to an understaffed traffic services division helping out locally.

The city has often benefitted from having the Saskatchewan RCMP's F Division Traffic Services patrolling the local streets but vacancies within the unit have led to less traffic enforcement in Swift Current.

The decrease in provincial officers has led to a significant drop in motorists receiving traffic offences happening within city limits. Swift Current recorded 4,074 during 2021 for the first 11 months of the year, that number was nearly sliced in half in 2022 to 2,172. This year, that figure is down significantly again to 1,374.

"Over the last few years, they've been hit with vacancies that haven't been filled," Swift Current City RCMP Staff Sargeant Evan Gordon said. "People in the city have maybe seen fewer traffic service vehicles in the city.

"But those are just a little but fewer because of those resource pressures faced by outside police units, not necessarily the city or rural detachment. We do still conduct a fair bit of traffic enforcement within the city."

Two-hundred and two traffic offences were recorded in Swift Current during November which is up from the 112 for the same month in 2022.

"It still is our job here as the municipal and rural detachment to enforce the rules of the road, and we do so, but maybe on a smaller level with a few other units that may not be as active."

Occasionally the City RCMP will receive outside help from the Moose Jaw Police Service or the Regina Police Service for certain initiatives to make up for the void left behind by the Saskatchewan RCMP's F Division Traffic Services.

Part of traffic enforcement that Gordon believes can be beneficial is being proactive on specific localized issues. The City RCMP engages in dialogue consistently with city council, elected officials, community members, and members of the police community to identify growing trends and how to try and curb them.

"It's not always reactive, there is proactive traffic enforcement that does go on," he said. "We want to make sure that it's in line with the community and the province."

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