WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government is promising to slap ankle bracelets on violent criminals and hire more police officers in light of a new report on crime rates.
Attorney General Dave Chomiak says the government will target the worst offenders and be “in their face” with increased supervision.
A new report from Statistics Canada says Manitoba had the highest homicide rate among provinces in 2008, and Winnipeg had the highest rate in major cities.
Manitoba’s murder rate was 50 per cent higher than second-place Alberta.
And despite a 44 per cent drop in vehicle theft, Winnipeg continues to have the highest rate of stolen automobiles in Canada.
The head of Winnipeg’s police union, Mike Sutherland, says officers on the street are frustrated because most of the people they arrest are soon released on bail or parole.
