Tweet the police!

You can now follow the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service on Twitter.

The new account was officially launched on Thursday afternoon during the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board meeting.

By following @SaultPolice on Twitter, followers of the account will get everything from crime prevention tips and reminders, to information on matters or community importance such as missing persons, people wanted by police and video footage that could be of help in solving crimes.

The account will also be used as a tool to help spread the word on issues around the city such as blackouts.

In making a presentation to the board on Thursday, Police Chief Bob Davies spoke of the immediacy of Twitter as a tool to get the information out to the public in a timely fashion.

While still using the media as a primary source of information distribution, the Twitter account will play an active role in aiding the release of information.

The account will also be used as another way for citizens to raise particular concerns.

Those that have concerns regarding such topics as traffic would be able to send a tweet to the Sault Police account which would be received instantly and could then be looked into in an appropriate fashion.