Province Unveils Missing Persons Strategy

Province Unveils Missing Persons Strategy

Monday, November 21, 2005 at 15:45

 

 

The provincial government will invest nearly $2 million over the next three years to solve historical and current cases of missing persons in Saskatchewan.

 

It comes as the province’s Aboriginal community tries to come to grips with a string of cases where Aboriginal women have vanished without a trace.

 

The money will also be used to enhance police and community responses to cases of missing persons.

 

The province is pledging to provide increased resources for policing, including funding for six new RCMP positions. Two positions will enhance the Violent Crime Analysis Section to identify suspects of predatory, serial and violent offences. Four investigators will be added to the historical crime unit to direct more resources to these investigations.

 

As well, the Regina and Saskatoon police services will receive funding to hire one officer each to work on missing persons cases.

 

The government’s plan includes the development of a province-wide policy for the investigation of missing persons, which will standardize how missing persons cases are reported and investigated.

 

The Saskatchewan Police Commission will lead the development of that policy.

 

The government plan also aims to strengthen the partnerships among government, police, and Aboriginal and community groups to support families and identify and respond to missing persons cases.

 

Justice Minister Frank Quennell says he is confident that this initiative will help solve cases of missing persons and provide families with answers about their missing loved ones.