Champaign City Council convened Tuesday night for a study session to hear an update on crime in specific districts, as well as policing strategies to combat the crime, including new intelligence police software.

The police department presented a report on crime activity annually to the city council.

Commanders from each respective district raised crime-related issues that were relevant in this past year, including an increased number of calls in some districts and the unruly college community.

Lieutenant of the South district, Brad Yohnka said this year has seen an increased amount of rowdiness in the area south of sixth street.

The narrow street that houses campus bars like Firehaus and The Clybourne has become an after party area, said Yohnka.

In order to deal with the limited space on that street, the police department has enacted a new parking policy that will keep parked cars out of the area from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There has also been an increase in dangerous objects being thrown off high rise buildings, said Yohnka.

The police department has now enacted an ordinance that holds tenants of the violating apartment building accountable for things being thrown off the balcony.

Previously, it was difficult to identity who was responsible for the incident in each apartment. The purpose of the ordinance is to raise accountability so less of these situations occur.

Chief of Police RT Finney said each district is as different as the people living within and that it is not their intention to use identical strategies to police different communities.

Council member Marci Dodds, district 4, said she appreciates the creativity the police department is using to address the crime issues in Champaign.

In addition to updates on district crime, the police department discussed the use of intelligence led policing, crime analysis software that would use local data to improve the efficiency of police forces.

The software is intended to collect data that would ensure quicker and more appropriate deployment of police staff.

“It’s information that we’re already collecting through various other sources, but now we’re combining it in a usable format so that we can use it more efficiently,” said Finney.

Through the use of crime-reports.com, which will be available to the public within 30 days, people will be able to view police data, including information about where sex offenders live, and where crime is occurring.

In addition to crime reports, there will be a system called “crime alerts” which will allow community members to be e-mailed about crime in Champaign, much like the system in place in Campustown.

Residents can choose to filter the alerts so they are only about crime within their district.

Council member Michael La Due, district 2, said the motivation for the technology was less money and fewer resources.

The technology is expected to be up and running anytime from sixty to ninety days.

Despite an increased amount of crime in some districts, Finney assured the council that Champaign is still a very safe community to live in.

“People who sleep all night can continue to do that,” he said.