New Rapid Deployment Squad for Calgary

The details are pretty sparse at this point, but the Calgary Police Service is talking about forming a new "rapid deployment team" purportedly to help "clean up" the downtown core.

http://www.cbc.ca/default/story/ca-downtown20060512.html

I suppose for defence lawyers this initiative will be good for business? Otherwise, I'm not really sure what to say about it. The story quotes Chief Jack Beaton as saying that last year some 850 people were charged with some 2500 offences in the downtown core last year...one can only presume with the added police presence and likely confrontational nature of a "rapid deployment team" that we will see those numbers increase significantly.

I won't get overly critical before the full plans are rolled out and the new squad has a chance to start its work, but it does seem a bit doubtful that this initiative will have any real effect on crime rates. For now, defence lawyers will have to keep one eye open for charges that arise from the operations of the "rapid deployment team" to ensure that they are keeping themselves onside with respect to proper procedures and Charter issues.