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RCMP can’t legally enforce curfew bylaw

Aug 4, 2017 | 2:00 PM

The mayor of North Battleford says council will have to review the city’s curfew bylaw because according to the RCMP, they can’t legally enforce it.

The city had the bylaw in place since 1997 which states no person under 16 is to be in a public area between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. without supervision of an adult the person resides with.

Many residents of the community have been urging the enforcement of the bylaw in an effort to prevent crimes like car shopping.

According to the Battlefords RCMP, forcing youth to go home for being out late strictly based on their age is a violation under the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Mayor Ryan Bater said many communities with curfew bylaws are having the same issue.

“This might be something council has to review,” Bater said. “If they are not enforceable then why do they exist? There is actually a national conversation about the legality of curfew bylaws. A higher court has never actually ruled on it but the issue is whether or not it is a violation of the Charter rights.”

When asked what the community can do to prevent youth crimes that occur at these times, particularly car shopping, Bater said the answer was logical.

“Lock your car doors. Don’t leave valuables in your cars. Don’t have the opportunity available,” Bater said. “We say it every year and have been for several years. We just said it last month when the crime severity index numbers came out. We are high on the index because of preventable crime.”

 

greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins