Inspector Ryan How of the Battlefords RCMP detachment presents the 2024 fourth-quarter reported crime data in the City of North Battleford during a regular council meeting on Feb. 24, 2025. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

CRIME DROP

Crime drops 13% in North Battleford as RCMP focuses on proactive policing

Feb 25, 2025 | 12:09 PM

The latest fourth-quarter report from the RCMP for 2024 shows a 13 per cent reduction in crime in North Battleford compared to the same period in 2023, from 4,049 cases to 3,527.

Crimes against persons, including assault and sexual offences, dropped 11 per cent, falling from 329 cases to 293. Property offences, such as break-and-enters and thefts, saw a 21 per cent decrease, dropping from 1,083 cases to 851.

Meanwhile, provincial traffic offences, including speeding and impaired driving, recorded the most significant decline, down 51 per cent from 743 cases to 363.

During a presentation at Monday’s regular council meeting, Battlefords RCMP Inspector Ryan How credited the reduction to proactive policing and specialized enforcement teams.

“I have to say I’m very pleased with the production of persons crimes showing 11 per cent,” How told council.

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“Extreme reductions in violent crime is excellent to see and [it] directs to members and [former] Inspector Gilbert’s leadership.”

However, not all crime categories saw a decline. Robbery cases increased by 120 per cent, rising from five to 11. How said the numbers require context, noting that robbery can be as simple as pushing somebody and taking a cellphone or a bike.

“It’s not a bank robbery which people typically associate with. It still is a person crime, and it is concerning, but with the term robbery, it could be a large amount of things,” he said.

Over the past five years, the city has also seen an overall six per cent reduction in calls for service.

‘Progress’

Mayor Kelli Hawtin welcomed the latest crime reduction statistics as a sign that efforts to improve public safety are working.

“We’ve gotten some really positive news to share here as a community that’s been discussing crime forever. It feels like forever,” she said.

“To see some success here — six per cent reduction in calls for service overall in the last five years — that’s really positive, and certainly [former] Inspector Gilbert did a good job.”

She also pointed to community safety initiatives, such as the 9 p.m. routine to prevent vehicle thefts, as contributing factors in the declining crime rates.

“We feel that the proactive work we’ve been investing in is paying off.”

Repeat offenders

Despite the improvements, some councillors raised concerns about repeat offenders.

“In the media, we’re seeing your teams arrest people. They [have] an arm’s length of condition on this,” said Coun. Bill Ironstand. “Like multiple — they’re out for multiple things, and we’re arresting them every day, and then three days later, they’re back up. How do we stop that?”

Staff Sgt. Kory Davidsen joins Inspector How at a regular council meeting on Monday in the City of North Battleford, discussing the ongoing efforts of the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team in the region. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Staff Sgt. Kory Davidsen, who manages the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Team program in the central region, acknowledged the issue and said the RCMP has raised the matter with provincial authorities.

“Without knowing any specifics, myself or the RCMP senior management is taking some of these challenges right to the ministry, and so they are having those discussions,” he said.

“We provide examples, and we’re also trying to show them that we’re repeatedly dealing with the same offenders. So I’m hoping that at that level, they’ll start to get the message.”

Hawtin pointed out that municipal governments have limited control over repeat offenders but noted that the new Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) could help address the issue.

“Well, it’s unfortunate the municipal government can’t necessarily do a lot on that file. It’s not really within our hands,” she said.

“But we do know the Marshals Service is going to be coming to the region as well, and part of the work they’re going to be doing is targeted enforcement and dealing with prolific offenders.”

The SMS is expected to launch by late 2026, possibly as soon as this summer, supporting the RCMP, First Nations, and municipal police services in rural communities.

The service will also target gangs, rural crime, illegal weapons and drugs, and will work to apprehend high-risk individuals and offenders with outstanding warrants.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com