Battlefords RCMP Inspector Tom Beck updates town council on the RCMP’s latest findings for 2019 and the final quarter results during his presentation Monday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Battleford crime stats show break and enters up, impaired driving and drug-related offences down

Jan 21, 2020 | 9:00 AM

Break and enters are on the rise in Battleford but drug-related offences and impaired driving numbers are down.

The latest RCMP report for the town reflects the fourth quarter, October to December 2019 period, and the 2019 year-end tally.

The report shows Battleford is seeing an increase in both residential and business break and enters.

Battlefords RCMP Inspector Tom Beck said to deal with the problem police created a new pilot-project task force to focus on prolific offenders responsible for many of these types of crimes.

“They have been actually really successful,” Beck said of the effort. “I’m hoping we’ll see a little bit of a decline in regard to that.”

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Crime numbers show the 2019 year total for residential break and enters at a 100 per cent increase over the prior year, with 28 reports last year, compared to 14 calls in 2018. For the fourth quarter, numbers actually decreased slightly, to three reports in 2019, versus four the year prior.

Business break and enters came in with a 57 per cent increase, at 11 reports in 2019, compared to seven the year prior. The fourth quarter shows two reports, one more than the same time in 2018.

Mayor Ames Leslie is optimistic the police task-force initiative will make a difference.

“We look forward to what the next report will show – hopefully a decrease in the break and enters in our community.” Leslie said.

Reports of crimes against persons were up in 2019, at 121 reports for the year in total versus 94 the prior year, representing a 29 per cent increase. For the fourth-quarter tally, numbers were lower however, at 21 reports for the 2019 period compared to 27 for the same time in 2018.

Mental Health Act reports increased in 2019 by 34 per cent, coming in at 51 reports for last year, compared to 38 in 2018. The fourth quarter also saw an increase, at 12 reports in 2019, versus nine for the period the year prior.

On a positive note, Battleford residents will be glad to know there appears to be fewer drunk drivers on the road.

The RCMP’s report shows 2019 numbers for impaired driving are down considerably compared to the prior year.

Mayor Leslie said that’s a good sign.

“A 20 per cent decrease in the amount of people caught drinking and driving is a tremendous feat,” he said.

There were 20 reports in 2019 for impaired driving, versus 25 in 2018; the fourth quarter showed a slight increase however, at seven reports in 2019 compared to three in 2018.

Drug-related offences decreased in 2019 by 69 per cent, to five reports from 16 the year prior. The fourth- quarter result shows two reports both in 2019 and 2018.

Property crime decreased by three per cent last year, at 304 reports in 2019 versus 314 the year prior. The fourth quarter saw a big drop, coming in at 45 reports for the period in 2019 compared to 100 calls for the same time in 2018.

Traffic collisions decreased by 53 per cent in 2019, to 15 reports last year, compared to 32 in 2018. The fourth quarter showed six reports in 2019, versus seven the year prior.

The town’s overall calls for service in 2019 dropped by 0.8 per cent compared to 2018 numbers, coming in at 1,234 reports last year, versus 1,244 calls in 2018.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW