Battlefords RCMP statistical data for 2016 was presented at North Battleford city council Monday night and they show crime still heading upwards in a number of categories.
Final numbers for 2016 were released showing increases in most categories compared to 2015. Calls for service came in at 13,628, compared to 13,160 the previous year.
While there were notable declines in property offences, municipal bylaw offences, provincial traffic offences and in motor vehicle collisions, the other major categories all went up.
The 2016 numbers saw 1264 person offences (compared to 1259 in 2015), 69 business break and enters (46), 195 residential break and enters (133), 2,445 criminal code offences (2,120), 173 drug offences (170), 781 Liquor Acts (490), 309 impaired operation of a motor vehicle (308), and 488 calls for assistance 406).
As for the declines, property offences came in at 3005 (down from 3092 in 2015), motor vehicle collisions came in at 259 (305), provincial traffic offences 1,124 (1,212), municipal bylaws 128 (180), and false alarms 462 (585).
Battlefords detachment Staff-Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt was on hand to make the presentation of the RCMP report to council, which included some updates on some intiatives at the detachment.
A key initiative for the RCMP has been their community policing initiatives. Woolfitt reported 96 referrals were successfully made to the North Battleford HUB to allow them to work with partners on addressing long-term social and mental health and addiction issues.
The RCMP has also been particularly active in efforts at addressing crime on a regional basis. Woolfitt noted the RCMP is working to blend their rural and urban community safety strategies together. They are also working towards development of Community Safety Committees with mixed representation from across the detachment.
Initial meetings have taken place with the City and Town and local MLA, with the BATC, as well as the RMs towards implementing a comprehensive Community Safety Enhancement Strategy, according to Woolfitt’s report.
“I’m excited to see the relationship-building that is ongoing,” said Woolfitt. “We’re better working together than we are in isolation.”
Mayor Ryan Bater said he shared Woolfitt’s enthusiasm for the regional policing strategy.
“Crime doesn’t respect boundaries,” the mayor said, adding the issues faced by the city are shared with their neighbours. “I appreciate the leadership that the detachment has taken in that,” said Bater.
The force is also working closely with the city’s Community Safety Officers. On that point, council received correspondence from Cst. Eric Toulouse of the RCMP, which publicly thanked the CSOs for efforts in assisting at an accident scene at Territorial Dr. and 100th Street in January during the afternoon rush hour.
According to the letter, the CSOs controlled the perimeter and secured the scene, and that allowed the RCMP to take pictures, call the tow trucks and get statements from both drivers as well as a witness.
The help of the Community Safety Officers was credited with making a difference in saving time for drivers as well as the RCMP.
