By Angela Brown

Inside the Chamber

Crime down in North Battleford: RCMP report

Jan 29, 2019 | 2:00 PM

North Battleford has seen some improvement on the crime front, according to the latest report from the Battlefords RCMP.

Staff Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt’s report to city council Monday outlined crime numbers from the fourth quarter of 2018.

Though break and enteres were up between October and December, crimes against people were down. Property offences declined during this time period, but were up overall year-over-year.

“We are finding that (for) all the communities we police, much of the crime being committed has its roots in social issues – addictions, poverty, housing and food security,” Woolfitt said in his report.

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He mentioned the success of some of the RCMP programs involving strategic crime suppression initiatives.

Total calls for service were down in the fourth quarter to just 3,063 compared to 3,303. The total for 2018 came in at 13,119, versus 13,665 for 2017.

Residential break and enters totalled 67, well above the 45 recorded for the same time period in 2017. The city saw 204 in all of 2018, up from 194.

There were 19 business break and enters for the fourth quarter, more than three times the count of six the year prior. There were 69 in 2018, up from 41.

Down for the fourth quarter were crimes against people, including robbery and assaults, alongside criminal code offences, vehicle collisions.

Impaired driving calls increased, however, to 54 versus 42 for the fourth quarter in 2017. For the year, there were 202 reports, less than the 223 for 2017.

Missing persons reports were up to 53 compared to 40. On the year, there were 174 reports, a drop from 244 in 2017.

PACT program update

During the meeting, Woolfitt spoke about the benefit of the new Police and Crisis Team (PACT) that arrived in North Battleford in December, a joint effort between the RCMP and Battlefords Mental Health.

He said during the program’s first month, 17 calls were diverted from hospital emergency room visits, which helped free up 85 hours of RCMP officers’ time. Often a police officer would have to sit for long periods with someone who needed to see a professional related to addictions or mental health issues.

“(It) is a huge savings not only financially but in resources as well,” Woolfitt said. ”It’s already having the noted impact.

“I think we’re starting to move in the right direction with the work that’s being conducted there. We’re also working with our partner agencies to direct persons to alternative processes as well, as opposed to involving them in the judicial system and court processes.”

Mayor Ryan Bater was pleased to hear the PACT program is progressing well.

“I’m really excited about what it’s going to do for the community,” he added.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow