Self-isolation is one of the driving factors in a recent decline in crime requiring Saskatoon Police Service dispatch amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Restrictions on public gatherings began on March 16, and subsequent measures and messaging have led to more people staying home.
Self-isolation is the biggest factor in fewer crimes requiring an officer’s attendance, according to SPS spokesperson Alyson Edwards. “People’s lifestyles have been dramatically changed,” Edwards told Global News.
For the month of March, Saskatoon police received 9,138 calls for service. There were 9,152 in 2019 and 8,944 in 2018. More significantly, officers were dispatched to 500 fewer calls in March 2020 than in March 2019.