There were no major changes in the August crime statistics in North Battleford, as declines for the year are still being recorded.
Calls for service were down to 1,270 from 1,492 for the same month last year, and the major crime categories were largely stable in the monthly report from the Battlefords City Detachment of the RCMP.
Person offences were up to 72 from 67 in August, business break and enters up to six from five, residential break and enters were unchanged at 15, property offences were down to 265 from 302, criminal code offences were down from 282 to 246, drug offences were up to 30 from 18, and liquor acts were up to 44 from 38.
For the year to date, person offences are down 15 per cent, business break and enters down 42 per cent, residential break and enters down eight per cent, property offences up .4 per cent, and criminal code offences down seven per cent. Drug offences were up 100 per cent for the year through August and liquor acts offences were down 24 per cent.
A total of 21 foot patrols were recorded in August bringing the number to 120 for the year.
The crime statistics were on compiled and submitted to council by S. Sgt. Phil Wilson.
Wilson also noted a new crime-prevention initiative, the North Battleford Community Action Plan, has begun and is being chaired by City Manager Jim Toye. This is the initiative modeled after Prince Albert's successful HUB program in which various community organizations work together to create a safer community.
A member of the RCMP has been deployed full-time on the NB Community Action Plan and other crime-prevention initiatives, said Wilson, and more operational sergeants will be assisting as well.
Wilson said the department is "expecting good things from that."
