Service reindeer being considered for police in Russia’s Arctic

Russian authorities are considering establishing a "reindeer police force" to help combat crime in one Arctic tundra region, Alaska Dispatch News reports:

Police in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug have complained that most of the crimes in the region are being committed by people who hide from the police on the tundra and other out-of-the-way places by using reindeer sledges. In order to pursue and transport criminals and quickly respond to crime, the police want to have reindeer in their own “garage.”

The issue of service reindeer came up a few days ago, after the last crime data from the region were published. Most cases are domestic crimes executed in condition of alcoholic inebriation such as hooliganism, fights and thefts.