Traffic safety, property crime, domestic violence and alcohol related offences are the top priorities for mounties in the Northern Rockies for the coming year, according to Staff Sgt. Steve McLeod.
McLeod presented recent crime statistics in the municipality to council on Dec. 14, which shows that property crimes have gone down after two active offenders from Alberta were arrested.
The statistics look at the months September through November, and give year-to-date data that indicates there were fewer calls for service in 2015 than there were in 2014.
Last year there were 3,530 calls, and this year there were 3,175 calls for service to the end of November, according to the report.
The monthly breakdown indicates there were substantially fewer calls to RCMP in September this year compared to last year, and that there were far fewer calls regarding alcohol and drugs – 65 this September compared to 85 last September.
There were also fewer impaired driving incidents. However, there were 10 more disturbances (39 compared to 29 in September 2014) and more domestic assaults.
In October, the numbers changed dramatically, with more calls to RCMP when compared to October 2014. Additionally, there were more incidents involving drugs and alcohol – 80 compared to just 69 last October – and substantially more youth incidents, with 11 occurring this October compared to just four last October.
There were also more break and enters this October, 16 in total, over and above the five break and enters that took place last October. There were, however, fewer assaults, a category that excludes sexual assaults, with 11 taking place this October compared to 13 in October 2014.
The following month, November, also showed more calls to RCMP. Further, there were substantially more calls for service involving alcohol or drugs — 86, above last November’s count of 67.
While November 2014 saw only nine prisoners, this November there were 30. There was also a great deal more impaired driving, with 16 occurrences over and above just two incidents in November 2014.
RCMP objectives are determined annually at the national, provincial and regional levels as part of the RCMP’s Annual Performance Plan, which takes into account input from local residents, stakeholders, community leaders and organizations.
peacereporter@ahnfsj.ca
