Winnipeg will create a police commission in the coming months, Mayor Sam Katz said Tuesday afternoon in his annual state of the city address.

Katz gave few details about the commission, which he announced to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. He said its mandate will be to enhance the accountability of the police force and prevent crime.

"Crime and safety are our major issue. And it's a matter of making sure there's accountability," Katz told reporters after the address.

"It's a matter of being accountable. And that's the way I see the police commission. They'll be the ones to make sure that accountability is there."

Katz said more details on how the commission will operate will be revealed in the coming weeks.

The commission will report regularly to the mayor and council, he said, and will advise on how police resources are allocated.

Katz added that commission will not replace the Law Enforcement Review Agency, a provincial body that deals with complaints against police officers.

Winnipeg is the only major city in Canada without some sort of civilian body overseeing the police service, according to the Inner-City Safety Coalition.

City politicians, including Katz, have been under growing pressure in recent months to introduce some sort of civilian check on the Winnipeg Police Service.

During the campaign leading up to the Oct. 25 civic election, the coalition polled mayoral and council candidates on whether they would support looking into the concept of a civilian commission. About 35 per cent of respondents said they would consider it.