The Serious Incident Response Team, an initiative that investigates police conduct, is now up and running in the province.

In a release, the province said members of the team, known as SIRT, will investigate matters where serious injury or death may have occurred while somebody was in the custody of police as a result of the actions of a police officer. Sexual assault and interpersonal violence also fall under this umbrella. 

The team will operate under the direction of a Civilian Executive Director.

"These changes will allow the SIRT to engage in any serious incident involving police, from initiating a full investigation to reviewing, overseeing, assisting or delegating one," said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre. "The Act coming into force completes the transition to a civilian-led, independent police oversight body and brings Saskatchewan's police oversight regime into line with most other Canadian jurisdictions."

SIRT can also intervene during an ongoing investigation, the province said.

"The people of Saskatchewan rightly hold their police officers to a high standard," said Public Complaints Commission Executive Director Greg Gudelot. "A fully-operational SIRT ensures that serious incidents involving Saskatchewan police will be investigated through an independent and transparent process designed to ensure a fair and high-quality investigation for all those involved."

The province said SIRT investigations will apply to all municipal police officers, including the Estevan Police Service. It will also apply to members of the Saskatchewan RCMP.