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Meota residents offer feedback at RCMP town hall

Nov 14, 2018 | 3:50 PM

Meota area residents had an opportunity to air some of their concerns during a town hall meeting Tuesday night organized by the Battlefords RCMP.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt and Sgt. Jason Teniuk met with about 70 residents who attended the event at the Meota Hall.

Woolfitt said overall the mood of the meeting was “very positive.”

He and Teniuk gave a presentation at the event discussing the RCMP’s annual performance plan, as well as its resources and the geographical area members need to cover in their work.

Some residents discussed their own experiences in dealing with rural crime during the meeting. One issue of concern involved some break ins to cabins this past spring.

“We did have some break and enters in the area but we identified two suspects in those (incidents) and investigations are ongoing,” Woolfitt said.

Another issue raised was the RCMP’s response time. Woolfitt noted the RCMP do cover a large area, however there are a number of officers responsible for the rural region. 

Residents have been more proactive and have implemented a number of strategies in an effort to deter criminal activity in their area.

“They talked about the community effort, and how everybody in their (area) are communicating with one another,” Woolfitt said.

When incidents do arise, people will make note of suspicious vehicles or individuals in their community or in the rural area and often let their neighbours know.

A number of people are also involved in Citizens on Patrol and Rural Crime Watch groups which continue to recruit volunteers in the area. 

Woolfitt said many people are also following the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategy, to make their property safer and increase security.

Residents may want to install surveillance cameras, and ensure there is adequate lighting around their property, while also making sure everything is secured properly and their vehicles are locked.

Woolfitt added the RCMP are still keeping in close contact with the Meota community and have been conducting patrols in that area.

This marks the second round of town hall meetings the RCMP have conducted this year.

The next local area town hall will be coming up Nov. 26 at the Cochin Rink Hall starting at 7 p.m.

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

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