This is Vanese Ferguson with Coffee Talk. A criminology professor being quoted in news stories suggests despite the uptick recently in police deaths, taking into account there are more police officers in Canada compared to historical numbers this cluster of deaths due to violence isn’t the norm and that in fact police are more likely to die in an accident. The RCMP have noted an increase in violence against members in recent times. Obviously, the situation in Melville is top of mind for everyone and the officer dragged by a suspected stolen vehicle the other night is another recent example. According to the most recent statistics from the RCMP, keeping in mind the Saskatchewan RCMP is responsible for policing 99.9 per cent of the total area of the province and 45 per cent of the total population of Saskatchewan and in ten years there has been an increase in violence on multiple fronts. From 2015 to 2024, RCMP report a 32 per cent increase in assault offences, from 2015 to 2024. Seventy-three per cent increase in assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm, a 43 per cent increase in aggravated assault and over that 10 year period there has been a 46 per cent increase in homicide victims. The problem goes much deeper than violence against a police officer however in that 10-year time frame Assault on Police Officer offences has increased 87 per cent. Not addressing the issue of violence against police emboldens more attacks and that, in my opinion, is of huge concern because they are the entity intended to protect citizens from criminals and crime.