Crime numbers in October were down from the same month in 2012, based on numbers submitted by Battlefords RCMP detachment.
Acting detachment commander Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt to North Battleford reported the numbers to city council Monday, saying numbers were down in several categories for the month including person offences, break and enters, criminal code offences, drug offences and liquor act offences.
Compared to October 2012 numbers (in brackets), the numbers for October break down as follows: 40 person offences (compared to 67), zero business break and enters (eight), one residential break and enter (10), 153 criminal code offences (195), 22 drug offences (25), 31 liquor acts (37) and eight municipal bylaw offences (10). Provincial traffic offences also dropped, from 290 to 186.
There were increases in property offences with 245 compared to 220, and in impaired operation of a motor vehicle to 39 from 19.
Overall calls for service registered at 1,069 for October 2013, compared to 1,397 the previous October.
While October was a good month in general, the year to date shows a less rosy picture.
RCMP numbers through October show person offences have increased one per cent, business break and enters were up two per cent and residential break and enters were up 30 per cent. Property offences are up 14 per cent for the year, liquor act offences are up 23 per cent and provincial traffic offences are up 10 per cent.
The rise in residential break and enters from 83 in 2012 to 107 this year was attributed by Woolfitt to the youths responsible for the rash of school break-ins in May and June, many of them committed by children. School break-ins are classified among "residential break and enters" in the RCMP statistics.
"We're continuing to work with those youths, with the families, and with the schools so those children are getting away from those activities," Woolfitt told council, adding "it will take a lot of work with some of those children."
Criminal code offences are down 16 per cent, drug offences are down 33 per cent and impaired operation of a motor vehicle down five per cent. Municipal bylaw offences are down 35 per cent for the year.
Overall, calls for service numbered 12,870 through October, compared to 13,273 for the previous year.
