(File photo/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

crime index

Stats Canada data shows RCMP workload increasing in La Ronge

Jul 28, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The Crime Severity Index from Statistics Canada shows La Ronge has nearly five times the number of crime violations than the provincial average as reported by the RCMP.

The data released earlier this week shows an increased workload for officers in La Ronge with the number of violations rising from 4,799 in 2018 to 6,298 in 2022. That rate in 2022 per 100,000 people was 62,800, while the provincial average was 12,700.

That per 100,000 rate also increases when it comes to adults and minors being charged with crimes. The provincial rate for adults charged per 100,000 is 4,600 and for La Ronge, it is 15,700.

For minors (ages 12 to 17), the numbers are 3,200 and 6,000 respectively. The overall number of youths charged has steadily dropped, however, from 154 in 2018 to 66 in 2022.

La Ronge RCMP Sgt. Brent Nicol, who has been with the detachment for 11 years, explained that La Ronge has always been a busy location when it comes to crime. He noted the caseload has been climbing in recent years, but added he was surprised the number of violations was nearly five times the provincial average.

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“It does surprise me that it’s that big of a difference, but it doesn’t surprise me that we are above the average. Having worked in the south where our call volume is much lower, you can see where some of them have to bring it down,” Nicol said. “63,000 down to 13,000, you know some are very low to bring the large numbers down to a 13,000 type of thing.”

In La Ronge, Nicol mentioned that alcohol-related crimes are at the top of the list. He said many of those calls lead to other crimes involving property damage or mischief.

Violent crimes are also on the rise, he added, but he went on to say people need to be aware crime is going up not only in Saskatchewan but across the country.

“I know this is one of the busiest spots in Saskatchewan and it’s continuing to stay that way,” Nicol said. “It’s hard to see these types of numbers, but we keep trying to deal with them and hopefully they will start to come down at some point.”

La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski said sometimes numbers alone don’t tell the whole story because there are a number of factors driving the Crime Severity Index numbers. He acknowledged that police-reported crime in the area has always been high, but it tends to fluctuate year-over-year.

“I think what we are going to do is compare the numbers released by Stats Canada, along with our own numbers, and see if they are accurate in our view,” Hordyski said.

“We look year-over-year and at our detachment action plan, we definitely deal with drugs and alcohol are number one, person crimes is second. We have our list of priorities, and we really pay attention to those numbers and how they are going.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno