Inspector John Sutherland of the RCMP says cold weather is likely the main reason calls for service were down during the month of January compared to a year ago.
Presenting the monthly policing report Monday to North Battleford city council, Sutherland said a total of 775 calls for service were received during the month of January, compared to 977 in January of last year. Within the statistics, he said, the only notable change was on assistance calls. They went up 113 per cent. Those 77 calls were assistance to such agencies as social services and to ambulance calls.
In answer to a question from Councillor Ryan Bater, Sutherland explained provincial traffic offences were up by 68 per cent to 129 from 77, probably because other calls were down giving members more time to do proactive work, resulting in more tickets issued than in the same period last year.
Mayor Ian Hamilton called the recent release of five-year stats demonstrated crime numbers have declined over the five-year period a positive outcome.
Sutherland said, "Last year was our second best out of five years," adding, "As we continue to move forward and look for efficiencies to get the members on the street and combine services to provide more support for them in the background, hopefully those numbers will continue to turn back around."
Person offences numbered 46 in January of this year, down 34 per cent from 70 last year.
There were no break and enters of businesses, as compared to two last January, but there were five break and enters to residences, the same as last January. Property offences also remained the same at 157.
Criminal Code offences were down by 18 per cent to 93 from 114 and drug offences were down 46 per cent from 26 to 14.
Liquor Act crimes were up by 81 per cent, sitting at 29 for January of this year compared to 16 in January last year.
Motor vehicle collisions were down by 38 per cent to 21 from 34.
Charges of impaired driving remained similar at 23 this year and 22 last year.
Crimes against municipal bylaws were 15 compared to 12 last January.
False alarms were down 18 per cent to 64 from 78.
Sutherland also reports members of the Battlefords detachment continued to be involved in community activities and in organizations such as the Battlefords Safety Council, inter-agency groups, Concern for Youth, Bridges for Children, the Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre and the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club. He added members continue to remain active in the community by coaching sports and participating in organized adult sports.
A majority of this involvement is done on members' own time, said Sutherland, saying it was a demonstration of their commitment to the community.
Mayor Hamilton and the inspector will be attending a Police and Community Partnering Symposium in Ottawa at the end of March where they will be looking at best practices from across the nation.
"It demonstrates directly our commitment to go ahead with community mobilization," said Hamilton.
Hamilton also noted the regular reporting by RCMP to the community about its ongoing activity has helped make the community and council more aware of what's happening so spending less time in council meetings on the policing report is indicative of that, not of any less interest.
