Battlefords RCMP Inspector Tom Beck introduced the latest crime report at North Battleford council Monday. (file photo/Angela Brown)

By Angela Brown

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Oct 29, 2019 | 8:23 AM

Residents can expect a heavier police presence in the community following several incidents of shots being fired around the Battlefords.

While providing an update on crime data in the area at Monday’s city council meeting, Insp. Tom Beck said Battlefords RCMP have noticed an increase and said officers will be in the area working to tackle the problem.

Beck said most of the cases are believed to be gang related.

Mayor Ryan Bater said he appreciates the RCMP making the issue a top priority.

“It’s unfortunate. Organized criminal activity, the associated drug trade and firearms is an epidemic throughout Western Canada,” Bater said.

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The mayor said the concern among the public is shared at city hall.

Elsewhere in North Battleford, the quarterly crime report showed year-to-date calls for service are down a little, but some categories, like residential break and enters, are up.

From January to the end of September, there were 10,022 calls for service, down slightly from 10,187 last year. The total calls for the third quarter alone increased to 3,732, compared to 3,719 for the same time last year.

Residential break and enters are up by 29 per cent year-to-date at 176 versus 136 in 2018. The third quarter period saw a decrease however, with 58 reports, compared to 66 for the same time last year.

Provincial traffic offences saw an increase of 68 per cent, with 1,309 calls to the end of September compared to 779 the prior year. From July to September, there were 463 reports, an increase from the 272 the prior year.

Break and enters to businesses are down by 42 per cent year-to-date at 43, compared to 52 last year. The third quarter total was 13, a drop from the prior year’s 30.

Some other areas that saw a decrease include a 40 per cent drop for year-to-date crime against persons. The tally was 668 in 2019, compared to 929 last year. The third quarter total was 239, also down from the same time in 2018 when it was 288.

Property offences like thefts are down by nine per cent, at 2,213 in 2019, compared to 2,448. For the third quarter, these offences came in at 577, also a drop from the prior year’s 959.

Drug-related reports declined by 48 per cent year-to-date at 80 compared to 154 last year. The third quarter came in at 32, lower than 47 over the same period last year.

Impaired driving is down by five per cent year-to-date at 143, compared to 151 the year prior. The third quarter tally came in at 54, down slightly from 52 the previous year.

Collisions declined by eight per cent, at 170 in 2019, compared to 184 last year. The third quarter tally was 51, slightly lower than the 56 reports from the year prior.

Mental Health Act calls went down by 40 per cent, at 282 in 2019, versus 466 last year. For the third quarter the tally was 98, up from the 87 reports the prior year.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow