Integrated Municipal Enforcement Team (IMET) Formed
Recently the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, Sault Fire Services, City of Sault Ste. Marie Building and By-Law, the housing commission and other partner agencies formed the Integrated Municipal Enforcement Team, known as IMET. This enforcement oriented team brings together all agencies with enforcement mandates, with the support of other partner agencies, to develop action plans in order to address a variety of community issues and concerns.
One of the duties of IMET will be to locate neglected properties and buildings in disrepair that are unsafe for tenants and community members.
Police Chief Hugh Stevenson says “Property and building owners have a responsibility to ensure they are following all building, by-law, fire codes and regulations set by governing authorities.” He adds, “There are many in Sault Ste. Marie and Prince Township who are not in compliance, this creates an unsafe environment for tenants and neighbours and they are conducive to drug dealing and secondary criminal offences such as theft from vehicles, mischief and break and enter.”
Chief Stevenson states “I want to ensure the public, our goal is to reduce the criminal activity associated with derelict buildings and other problematic properties in our communities.”
On Thursday, September 3, 2020 IMET conducted its first enforcement operation. A property at 383 First Avenue was safely secured and enforcement agencies were able to conduct an investigation. Numerous fire code and by-law infractions were identified.
Further information on the activity of the Integrated Municipal Enforcement Team will be released in the future as it is available.
For Sault Ste. Marie Police Service media inquiries please contact the Manager of Corporate Communications, Planning and Research Lincoln Louttit at 705-949-6300 ext. 259.