The purpose of the Alternate Response Unit (ARU) is to decrease the number of calls for service that uniform patrol officers attend.

This is achieved by diverting certain non-priority calls for service to ARU, where assigned officers contact complainants by telephone.  This diversion of calls for service from the front line provides patrol officers more time to become involved in proactive policing initiatives within the community.

Statistical data drawn from Computer Aided Dispatch by the Information Systems Unit indicates that at 1 District, ARU officers completed 1094 calls in July and August 2003.  A second study, Region wide, found that from October 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004 the Alternate Response Unit diverted 2637 calls from the front line.

Calls are assigned to ARU through procedure set out in Niagara Regional Police Service General Order #097.01 and a procedure manual.  The Communications personnel, complaint takers, obtain information from complainants and enter it into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.  This incident number generated by this entry is given to the complainant who is advised that a police officer will be contacting them by phone.

ARU officers reporting for duty will "log on" to the CAD system by contacting communications.  ARU officers can then retrieve information on ARU calls at computer workstations and begin calling complainants to take reports.  When ARU officers determine the disposition of a call, they notify the Communications supervisor to have the call closed.

The Alternate Response Unit is situated in the larger Districts of each policing district and services calls for the entire district.  The ARU officers are not limited to taking calls in their respective districts and the workload is shared region wide.  ARU officers may also cooperate with district staff in the management of walk-in complainants at the front desks and with many daily operational needs, such as front desk relief or cell relief.  These walk-in calls for service amount to a total of 166 calls taken by ARU at front desks from January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2004.