Police Chief Bryan Larkin says policing must modernize in the battle against violent and gun-related crime

Statistics Canada reported a small increase in violent and gun-related crime in the Waterloo Region, continuing what has become a regular trend.

Waterloo Regional Police Chief Bryan Larkin says often, crime comes from elsewhere.

"Our data show these criminals aren't from our community, often our investigations find the tentacles of crime go back to Toronto."

Larkin says he isn't sure if vigilant policing is forcing Toronto-based crime out to other communities, but he feels smaller communities (when compared to Toronto) require more help.

Often when police forces are tasked with a big investigation, like the current WRPS investigation into a serial child predator, it can pull away police resources from other efforts.

Larkin tells The Mike Farwell Show on 570 NEWS there are modern solutions to some of these problems.

"With all the data and information that's available now, we need to have a dialogue - with other police departments - about how to use this to better protect our community."

He does stress that police departments work together on a daily basis, but more could be done to improve communication.