The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit of the Alberta Sheriffs obtained a court order against the owner of 19 Berwick Crescent NW that gives investigators the authority to close the property for 63 days, starting at noon on May 27. Any tenancy agreement or lease of any tenant of the property is terminated effective that date.
The community safety order, obtained in Court of King’s Bench, bars people from the property until the closure period ends on July 29. The property will be boarded up, fenced and all the locks will be changed. SCAN unit members will continue to monitor the property for any activity while their investigation remains ongoing.
“Another neighbourhood has been made safer thanks to the work of Alberta’s SCAN team. The closure of yet another problem property will help put residents’ minds at ease while serving as a reminder that illegal activity will not be tolerated in Alberta communities. I commend them for their hard work to ensure the safety of Albertans and their communities.”
“This closure is yet another example of how the southern Alberta SCAN team is restoring safety and stability to communities throughout the region. Close collaboration with law enforcement partners like the Calgary Police Service is key to SCAN’s success in addressing local hotspots of illegal activity and routing crime from our neighbourhoods.”
The Alberta Sheriffs work with other law enforcement agencies to shut down properties being used for illegal activities. The SCAN unit operates under the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, which uses legal sanctions and court orders to hold owners accountable for illegal activity happening on their property.
Since its inception in 2008, Alberta’s SCAN unit has investigated more than 9,000 properties and have been granted 119 community safety orders. Most complaints are resolved by working with owners to stop the illegal activity on their property.
Quick facts
- Between Aug. 1, 2022 and May 21, 2024, the Calgary Police Service attended the property 45 times for various types of calls for service.
Related information
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Insp. Mike Dirkson of the SCAN unit will be available between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. for on-camera interviews at 19 Berwick Crescent NW in Calgary.