Compared to the first quarter of last year, crimes against persons and property in Battleford are down.
In his report to Battleford Town Council Monday evening, Inspector John Sutherland of the Battlefords RCMP said the first quarter report indicated the total calls for service have decreased slightly compared to calls for service during the same period in 2013.
He also reported that, while crimes against persons and property calls have shown a decrease, there has been a slight increase in property related offences.
He said extremely cold weather had an impact on person and property crime in Battleford, as it did in North Battleford.
Further decreases in Battleford's statistics can be attributed to self-generated work such as traffic projects, said Sutherland.
In the first quarter of 2014, person crimes numbered 11, compared to 18 in 2013 and seven in 2012.
Property crimes numbered 39, as compared to 51 in 2013 and 43 in 2012.
There were three residential break and enters, compared to none in the two previous years' first quarters. Business break and enters were the same at one in each of the three years.
Criminal Code offences were six in the first quarter of 2014 as compared to 15 in 2013 and 18 in 2012.
Drug crimes were only four so far this year, compared to 12 and 18 in 2013 and 2012 respectively.
Motor vehicle accidents numbered four, with five in each of the first quarters of 2013 and 2012.
First quarter provincial traffic statistics were 34, 42 and 71 for 2014, 2013 and 2012 respectively. Impaired drivers numbered five, eight and five.
Including municipal bylaw infractions of four, 20 false alarms and 36 calls for assistance to other agencies such as Social Services or ambulance, the calls for service for the first quarter totaled 204 as compared to 218 in 2013.
Sutherland also had advice to help deter crime.
"We encourage people not to leave anything in their vehicles at all," said Sutherland. "When people are out and about, it's a crime of opportunity, if they see something attractive there's a chance they could break in and take it."
Sutherland also assured council bicycle safety would be stressed at upcoming bike rodeos and by members handing out coupons to kids found wearing helmets and riding safely.
His remarks were made in response to Councillor David George expressing concern for the safety of young kids and first time bike riders.
"I hope that the people driving their vehicles and kids in general will keep their heads up for one another," said George. "I hate to see kids get hit by vehicles. It has happened in the past."
It happened to his own daughter when she was younger, he said, even though she wasn't in the wrong.
Sutherland confirmed for him that the law requires bicycle riders to ride with the traffic on the right hand side of the road, while pedestrians are to walk on the left side facing traffic.
"My question is why aren't parents telling their kids that," said George.
