(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)

RCMP detachments in the Okanagan and Kamloops are in the process of developing policies and making temporary service changes to lessen exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

In Kelowna, fingerprinting services will no longer be provided until further notice and the Big White Community Police office will be closed.

Kamloops RCMP will maintain front counter service at both the Battle Street detachment and the North Shore community policing office.

RCMP in Penticton will close the front counter at the detachment. All non-essential services will be unavailable, including fingerprinting and police information checks. The phone at the front of the detachment can be used by the public to contact front counter employees.

The Vernon RCMP detachment front counter remains open to the general public to assist with non-emergency complaints and enquiries. A limited number of people will be permitted into the detachment waiting room at one time. All Vernon and North Okanagan detachments have suspended all civilian fingerprinting services. Residents who need to obtain fingerprints for criminal court purposes are still required to attend to the respective North Okanagan detachment.

An RCMP spokesperson says the actions are being undertaken to reduce staff exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

RCMP remind the public online crime reporting tools are available.

In the Central Okanagan, go here to access the online crime reporting tool.

The same tool is available in Kamloops here. And in Penticton, you can access the crime reporting tool here.

Here are the crimes you can report online:

• Damage/mischief to a vehicle under $5,000
• Hit and run to an unoccupied vehicle or property
• Theft of bicycle under $5,000
• Theft under $5,000
• Theft from vehicle under $5,000
• Lost property

Here are the crimes that cannot be reported online:

• Any witnesses or suspects
• Any items lost or stolen over $5,000
• Any damages over $5,000
• No items involving personal identity, firearms, licence plates or decals

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.

News from © iNFOnews, 2020