The statistics are out for October and they show crime continuing to go down in North Battleford.
The monthly crime report, presented to North Battleford city council Monday by Staff Sgt. Phil Wilson, shows calls for service down for the month of October, as well as down in most categories for both the month and the year so far.
Calls for service in October were 1,141, down from 1,486 in October 2011. For the year to date they are at 12,999, compared to 13,288 for the previous year.
October numbers compared to the same month in 2011 show person offences down from 89 to 62, business break and enters slightly up from three to seven, residential break and enters down from 11 to eight, property offences down from 244 to 221, criminal code offences down from 198 to 176, drug offences down from 22 to 21, liquor acts down from 52 to 31, provincial traffic offences down from 274 to 237, impaired operation of motor vehicles down from 36 to 19 and municipal bylaw offences down from 22 to nine. Motor vehicle collisions were slightly up to 35 from 33. There were 61 false alarms and 78 calls for assistance in October.
For the year through October, Wilson reported declines for the year in most major categories. Person offences are down 10 per cent, business break and enters down 19 per cent, residential break and enters down five per cent, property offences down 6 per cent, criminal code offences down 7 per cent, liquor acts down 25 per cent, motor vehicle collisions down 26 per cent and impaired operation of a motor vehicle down six per cent.
Provincial traffic offences were up 15 per cent for 2012, and drug offences up a big 74 per cent for the year as well, from 199 to 346.
Wilson told council the increases in those two categories was an indication of a larger RCMP presence. Wilson also noted the RCMP have been following up on more tips sent in by members of the public who see drug deals or suspicious activity.
"The community's talking to us a little bit about drug offences," said Wilson. "They're reporting them, and that's one of the reasons our offences are higher."
Wilson later noted those tips from the public are vital in tracking down drug activity, saying the police might not know about it otherwise.
"If nobody calls us, we rely on investigative techniques of our own and we find ourselves a lot less successful without community co-operation."
The drug numbers for the year so far brought about considerable comment from councillors. When Councillor Ray Fox asked about the kinds of drugs involved, Wilson said there was a variety, with marijuana prevalent but also crack cocaine and some crystal meth as well.
When asked by Councillor Greg Lightfoot if the increased focus was having an impact in combating drug use in the city, Wilson admitted the city still has a long way to go.
"I think any community has a long ways to go," said Wilson, who added that he didn't think North Battleford's numbers were necessarily higher than anywhere else. On a more positive note, Wilson said the fact people are talking to the RCMP about drug crimes shows "there's concern in the community, and that gives us a shot at it."
"I wouldn't say we're putting a dent in it but we're fighting the good fight," said Wilson. He concurred when Lightfoot suggested people make those calls to police if they see something suspicious.
There were 35 foot patrols in October, following up on the 53 done in September. Those are up from the summer months.
All in all, Wilson noted it was a "good report" that continues a trend seen for the last several months in the city of declines in the major crime categories.
