Collaboration is at the core of crime prevention. When we come together to share our knowledge and resources, we can make significant strides towards making Alberta safer for everybody. Two specialized law enforcement units are following this approach to prevent crime: SCAN and ALERT.
SCAN targets problem properties where illegal activity commonly occurs, while ALERT dismantles organized crime networks that cross jurisdictional boundaries. Both units work differently from regular police, but they share a common goal: making Alberta communities safer.
SCAN: Targeting Problem Properties, Not People
Some properties become magnets for crime, creating ongoing problems for entire neighbourhoods.
The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit targets properties where illegal activity repeatedly occurs. This civil enforcement approach often proves more effective than criminal charges
SCAN operates as a unit of the Alberta Sheriffs under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act. The legislation gives SCAN officers the power to hold property owners accountable when their buildings become hubs for criminal activity.
How SCAN Investigations Work
When you report a problem property to SCAN, investigators begin by confirming that illegal activity is actually happening at the location. They don't act on single complaints or isolated incidents. SCAN focuses on properties where criminal activity occurs regularly and creates ongoing problems for the community.
The process starts with informal contact. SCAN investigators approach property owners to discuss the issues and work toward solutions without involving the court. Many cases end at this stage when property owners take action to address the issues.
If informal discussions fail to resolve the problem, SCAN applies to the courts for a Community Safety Order. This legal document requires property owners to meet specific conditions to prevent further illegal activity. The conditions vary depending on the situation, but typically include steps like improving lighting, introducing security measures and tenant screening, or restricting certain activities on the property.
Property owners who fail to comply with Community Safety Orders face serious consequences. Courts can order properties closed for up to 90 days, effectively shutting down the illegal activity and giving neighbourhoods relief from ongoing problems.
SCAN's civil approach works alongside criminal enforcement rather than replacing it. Any criminal activity discovered during SCAN investigations is turned over to the police for further investigation.
What Issues SCAN Addresses
SCAN investigates properties that create ongoing community problems. The types of criminal activity that can occur at a particular property include:
- Drug trafficking operations that turn residential or commercial properties into distribution centers create safety risks and attract other criminal activity to neighbourhoods.
- Prostitution and human trafficking often operate from specific locations that become known in criminal networks.
- Child exploitation requires investigators with specialized training and resources. SCAN works with other agencies to ensure these serious crimes receive appropriate attention.
- Gang activity and organized crime operations that use properties as meeting places, storage facilities, or operational bases can be shut down.
Reporting to SCAN
If you suspect a property is being used for ongoing illegal activity, you can report it anonymously to SCAN by calling the toll-free number at 1-866-960-SCAN (7226). Your identity remains confidential, and you won't be involved in any investigative or court proceedings that result from your report.
You can also submit reports online through the Government of Alberta website.
When making a report, provide as much specific information as possible. Include dates and times when you observed suspicious activity, descriptions of people and vehicles involved, and details about what you witnessed. The more specific information you provide, the better SCAN investigators can assess whether the situation warrants investigation.
Remember that SCAN investigates ongoing patterns of illegal activity, not isolated incidents or single complaints. If you witness a crime in progress, call 911. If you want to report suspicious activity that might indicate criminal planning, use other reporting channels like the RAVE line at 1-833-547-RAVE (7283).
ALERT: Tackling Serious and Organized Crime
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) brings together the province's law enforcement resources to combat crimes that cross jurisdictional boundaries and require specialized expertise. ALERT combines officers and resources from municipal police forces, provincial RCMP, and federal RCMP into integrated teams.
ALERT operates with 400 police officers and civilian staff working across eight regional hubs: Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer.
The Collaborative Approach
Traditional police forces are limited when they have to investigate crimes that span jurisdictions or require specialized expertise that individual departments can't maintain. ALERT solves this problem by pooling resources from multiple agencies.
Municipal police officers working with ALERT bring their knowledge of local criminal networks and community connections to the table. RCMP officers bring experience in addressing rural crime patterns. The Federal RCMP add international investigative capabilities and access to specialized resources.
This collaboration allows investigations to follow criminal networks wherever they lead, without being halted by jurisdictional disputes or resource limitations. When a drug trafficking operation spans multiple cities and towns or when organized crime groups operate across provincial or international borders, ALERT can coordinate a response.
ALERT's Specialized Units
ALERT is made up of specialized units that focus on specific types of serious crime.
- Organized crime and gang units operate eight integrated teams dedicated to dismantling criminal organizations throughout Alberta. These teams focus on drug networks, gang activity, and other forms of organized crime.
- The Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit investigates crimes against children that occur online. This includes child pornography, computer-related child sexual abuse, child luring, voyeurism involving victims under 18, and child sex trafficking.
- The Human Trafficking Counter Exploitation Unit investigates human trafficking within Alberta. The unit works with agencies and organizations to help rescue and support survivors. ALERT recognizes that supporting victims helps achieve successful prosecutions.
- Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA) is a central hub for analyzing and sharing intelligence on organized crime and emerging criminal trends. CISA helps law enforcement agencies across Alberta make connections between seemingly unrelated crimes and identify patterns that indicate organized criminal activity.
Community Education and Prevention
ALERT recognizes that enforcement alone cannot prevent organized crime and child exploitation. They provide additional community education and prevention programs to help Albertans recognize and avoid criminal exploitation.
Partnership with schools and community organizations extends ALERT's reach beyond traditional law enforcement channels. When community members understand how organized crime operates, they're better equipped to recognize suspicious activity and report it effectively.
Reporting and Getting Help
- For ongoing criminal activity at a specific property: Contact SCAN at 1-866-960-SCAN (7226) or report online through Alberta.ca.
- For organized crime, child exploitation, or human trafficking: Contact your local police agency, which can coordinate with ALERT if the situation requires specialized resources.
- For crimes in progress: Call 911 immediately.
- For suspicious activity that doesn't fit into other categories, call RAVE at 1-833-547-RAVE (7283).
These specialized units show how successful it can be when communities and law enforcement collaborate.
Your reports to law enforcement help SCAN and ALERT protect Alberta communities from property-based crimes and organized criminal networks. Together, these units address criminal problems that individual police agencies would struggle to handle on their own, making Alberta a safer place for everyone.
July 03, 2025