The latest RCMP crime report shows there is a bit of an increase in numbers for the first quarter of 2020 for calls for service in Battleford. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In the chambers

Town sees slight increase in crime report numbers

May 21, 2020 | 2:05 PM

Break and enters to residences and impaired driving offences are up in Battleford, but business break and enters and traffic collisions are down, based on the latest RCMP crime report.

The statistics covering the period from January 1 to March 31 were included in this week’s town council agenda items.

Total calls for service saw a four per cent increase, with 246 reports for the current period compared to 236 for the same time last year.

Battlefords RCMP Staff Sgt. Jason Teniuk alluded to the COVID-19 situation that may have some influence on the numbers as a possibility.

“In and of itself it doesn’t really mean a whole lot; I think it is a sign of the times perhaps,” he told battlefordsNOW of the increase overall. “[It is] a sign of people perhaps getting a little stir crazy within their homes or whatever the case may be. But really all in all it is a very, very small increase.”

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Residential break and enters climbed by 125 per cent, with nine reports for the current period, compared to four last year.

Teniuk said while no increase is good, the actual rise by five calls is relatively small for the period overall.

While he could not speak to individual cases, Teniuk said the increase may have some connection to the impact of the COVID-19 situation.

“That just could be directly related to the status of the economy here right now,” he said. “There are a lot of people that are out of work.”

Teniuk is hopeful there might be lower numbers in the next quarter, with more people staying home during the pandemic period.

Impaired driving reports increased by 33 per cent, with four reports in the current period, compared to three for the same time last year.

Business break and enters were down, with no reports for the current period, compared to one for the same time in 2019.

Traffic collisions dropped by 25 per cent, with three reports for the current period, compared to four for the same time the year prior.

Persons crimes were down by 50 per cent as a positive sign, with 13 reports for the first quarter this year, half the count of the same period last year.

Police responded to more calls assisting the general public in the first quarter this year, with 34 calls for service compared to 11 for the same period in 2019.

In the RCMP detachment’s annual performance plan for 2019-20, it has three main priorities: to increase traffic safety, reduce crime, and engage with the public to increase awareness and educate residents to help make the community safer.

The RCMP report indicates the Police and Crisis Team (PACT), which includes mental health professionals, continues to be active in the community, assisting first response for reports involving mental health and addiction crisis situations. PACT assisted with 110 calls across the full detachment area as a whole during the first quarter.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow