‘It’s a battle’: Battlefords’ top Mountie says repeat offenders straining policing

As of October, the detachment had 544 active warrants covering 1,263 charges, with 899 people under release conditions — a workload How called ‘astronomical.’

How told attendees the current system is discouraging victims and witnesses from participating in the court process. He said repeat violent offenders “raise other criminals up,” perpetuate crime in neighbourhoods and intimidate the very people expected to testify.

He noted that victims often feel unsafe when an offender is quickly released back into the community.

“They don’t feel safe,” he said, adding that a vulnerable person can be “revictimized” when someone accused of a serious offence is “rereleased again down the street in 24 hours.”

“So until that’s corrected, we’re really just holding our fingers in the [dike], so to speak. We’re really just trying to maintain it.”

On that note, the Liberal government tabled legislation Oct. 23 to make it harder to get bail for a variety of offences, including vehicle theft, extortion and breaking and entering.

How also described the toll this environment is taking on RCMP members. He said officers are repeatedly encountering serious violence during arrests and day-to-day calls, including situations where members have been “hit, kicked, punched, broken arms, broken legs… spit on [and] rammed with vehicles.”

“We got to check in with them every day. How are you doing? You know, are you OK? Do you need some time off? So it is a battle,” he said.

While police have little control over what happens once files reach court, How said supervisors stress the importance of building strong cases. He said the detachment is pushing members to be “world-class investigators” and submit “extremely professional court packages” so judges and prosecutors have a clear picture of what occurred.

To support businesses facing ongoing problems downtown, he said the detachment has also been encouraging the use of community victim impact statements — documents that accompany court submissions and describe how repeat offences affect a neighbourhood. He said judges are “bound to listen” to them at sentencing.

How also urged residents and businesses to advocate directly to their elected officials about the impact prolific offenders are having on safety.

“It is offensive right now what is going on with prolific offenders. And I don’t hold back using that word because I see the victims that are retraumatized,” he said.

Despite the challenges, he said partnerships with First Nations, municipal leaders, community safety officers, Citizens on Patrol volunteers and the fire department remain key to helping the detachment manage violent and repeat offenders while maintaining essential response work.

“Regardless of how many police officers you have, it’s still going to be an issue dealing with the same repeat offenders,” How said.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

‘It’s a battle’: Battlefords’ top Mountie says repeat offenders straining policing

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