Crime stats were still showing increases for 2015 in most categories, based on numbers presented at North Battleford City Hall Monday night by Staff Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt of Battlefords RCMP detachment.
Increases were noted in several categories including property, persons, drug and Criminal Code offences.
The good news was that both business and residential break and enters are down for the year, as is impaired operation of a motor vehicle offences. False alarms are also down, likely in response to city bylaw changes.
For 2015, persons offences stand at 582 (up 96) business break and enters 13 (down 9), residential break and enters 41 (down 29), property offences 1390 (up 178), Criminal Code offences 938 (up 125), drug offences 98 (up 16), Liquor Acts 226 (up 8), motor vehicle collision 118 (up 15), provincial traffic offences 583 (down 143), impaired operation 127 (down 11), municipal bylaws 74 (down 2) and false alarms 291 (down 127 from last year).
Total calls for service were 3,169, compared to 3,835 in 2014. The reduction is primarily due to changes in the manner that criminal record checks are being recorded by the RCMP as well as the greater role of the Community Safety Officers in issuing tickets.
Woolfitt noted that property offences included not just damaged property but also intoxicated persons found in residences. Also, a lot of “Criminal Code” category offences involve releases and breaches of conditions. Woolfitt said they are monitoring those as strictly as they can and that accounts for the increase in that area.
He outlined a number of community efforts in which RCMP members had been active. Those include involvement in June in the Race for Kids with Battlefords Boys and Girls Club, another successful Cops for Cancer event, participation at the Good Sam Samboree, and other events. Members were also very active with the Boys and Girls Club, Battlefords Minor Hockey, and other activities in the community.
Woolfitt acknowledged the release of the Crime Severity Index numbers for North Battleford this summer and pointed to a “significant decline” in all three CSI categories.
He pointed to the high level of mischiefs as contributing to the CSI numbers. While many were related to vandalism, it also included “police responses to calls for related intoxicated persons both in and out of residences. So that continues to be a number that affects our standing in the CSI.”
Woolfitt noted a substantial amount of calls to Battlefords detachment involved individuals with addictions or mental health concerns, and pointed to the need for a multi-agency response and a long-term strategy to address those issues.
He also noted that in the past year there had been a “fairly large realignment at the detachment” with streamlining of processes and improved service delivery. Woolfitt believed it was paying some dividends on the CSI.
But Woolfitt cautioned “it’s just a year into this, and we’re going to have to keep moving forward with the policing plan that we have in place.”
Councillors waded in with their own comments during the discussion that followed. One of the topics discussed was the issue of individuals entering vehicles to steal items or even drive off with them.
Councillor Cathy Richardson recalled an incident in which she had left the door of her vehicle ajar, which she said provided an opportunity for vandals to get in and look through her items.
Nothing was stolen. Still, this provided Woolfitt a chance to encourage people to call in and report such instances, even if nothing was missing, so that police could follow up.
City Manager Jim Puffalt added car thefts are a huge issue in North Battleford.
He pointed to stats showing that of RCMP jurisdictions in the province, 44 percent of vehicles stolen happened in North Battleford.
Puffalt described many of these as “crimes of opportunity.”
“People are joyriding and looking for vehicles with keys in them,” said Puffalt. He encouraged people to take steps to protect themselves by locking vehicles and taking valuables out.
In related policing news, the City of North Battleford received correspondence back from Brenda Butterworth-Carr, commanding officer of F Division, in relation to the City’s desire for a Service Level Agreement with the RCMP to accompany the Community Safety Officer program.
Her response indicated the RCMP was working with the province on developing a Service Level agreement or Memorandum of Understanding, and “considers this to be a priority.”
“Although the CSO program is a provincial initiative and is independent of the RCMP, it is realized that there is a need for the RCMP and Province to co-ordinate aspects of this program. The RCMP supports the implementation of the CSO program and will continue to work closely with the Province moving forward,” she stated.
Mayor Ian Hamilton indicated he was satisfied by the response, calling it “very positive for us,” adding they would work towards getting that done.
