Police reveal community policing strategy

Thunder Bay police are implementing some major changes to its community policing program in order to combat the city's rising crime rate.

Chief Bob Herman announced the changes Thursday afternoon. The popular foot patrol program is being expanded from three officers to six, to boost the police presence in the downtown business areas.

The police service will also create a Focused Enforcement Team, with six uniformed officers operating in neighbourhoods facing spikes in crime and other problems. Herman says it is a major redeployment of their community policing officers.

Herman says the changes are an important part of the force's strategy to reduce crime and alcohol-related issues, especially in the downtown south core.

The foot patrols will be visible seven days a week, mainly during the daytime.

Herman says that schedule was put in place to address the concerns of business owners in the downtown cores.