Peel police are fighting a recent surge of crime in the region by putting more officers on the street.
Police Chief Mike Metcalf said Wednesday that twelve additional officers will join the Strategic and Targeted Enforcement Program (STEP). The program is designed to target members of street gangs, stop violence and recover weapons.
"The continued safety and well being of residents and workers in the Region of Peel is the number one priority of the men and women of Peel Regional Police. I have the utmost confidence that the dedication and professionalism of these additional officers will result in a safer community" he said in a news release.
Having more officers deployed to the program means that it can operate seven days a week rather than just on weekends, which is what the schedule currently permits. The pilot project begins November 1.
"Officers on the S.T.E.P. program are deployed strategically, based upon intelligence and qualified information obtained by officers, to those areas and locations identified as having a high propensity for violence and weapons offences," said a Peel Regional Police news release on Wednesday.
The moves comes after the Peel Police Services Board asked for a review of operations as part of a wider five-point plan to tackle crime.
Peel region has reported 24 murders so far for 2008. Last year, there were 17 homicides.
