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The streets of Saskatoon are getting more dangerous for the police and the public.

A new Saskatoon Police Service report shows the use of force by police continued to rise in 2017, a trend attributable to more weapons and drugs on the street.

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The number of police incidents that involved force rose by 31 per cent in 2017 — to 264 from 201 in 2016. In 2015, 186 incidents were reported.

The largest increase happened in vehicle pursuits, which jumped to 180 last year from 149 in 2016. In 2015, police reported only 54 vehicle pursuits.

“Due to an increasing prevalence in the use of illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, our officers are encountering and arresting more violent individuals,” noted the report, written by Insp. Patrick Nogier.

Photo by Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Police Chief Troy Cooper and his predecessor, Clive Weighill, both linked an increase in police use of force and overall crime to rising meth use.

It’s not just drugs, though, Nogier’s report says — weapons are on the rise, too.