By battlefordsNOW

N.B. latest crime numbers show overall decrease

Aug 21, 2018 | 4:00 PM

Battleford’s RCMP Sgt. Jason Teniuk presented the latest crime report at city hall on Monday, showing overall numbers down for the April to June period compared to the same time last year.

Numbers indicate residential break and enter offences reported were down, while drug offences were up slightly, amongst some of the highlights.

Teniuk said people should keep matters in perspective however, adding that the number of calls doesn’t reflect the full picture.

“What we need to focus on is the amount and the severity of the calls that have come in during that period,” Teniuk told battlefordsNOW Tuesday. “It’s very possible to see a reduction in the amount of calls that have come in, and yet see violent crime going up.

“The important thing I think to remember here right now is that these numbers are relative, that by themselves they don’t necessarily mean a lot,” he added. “But each number in each category adds up to something as it moves forward. When you start looking at violent crime categories and the amount of calls for service – that’s the more important part.”

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The report for the second quarter period, from April to June, shows there were 2,356 total calls this year for the period, a drop from the 2,460 calls received for this time in 2017. For the year to date, the total calls for service came in at 5,139, compared to 5,343 for the same time last year. 

New strategies

Teniuk said some policing strategies including focusing on chronic offenders through the detachment’s Targeted Crime Suppression Patrols strategy is helping tackle crime. He also credited the work of the RCMP’s bike patrol enforcement in helping catch culprits. Teniuk added the Provincial Crime Reduction Team that will be based out of the Battlefords detachment will also provide added support.  

Amongst some of the notable categories in the latest crime report, the numbers show an increase for Crimes Against Persons, at 254 for the April to June period this year, a slight increase compared to 250 for the same time last year. The year-to-date tally shows 537 reports this year, compared to 530 last year.

Drug offences spiked slightly, at 42 for the current period, compared to 39 last year. For the year to date, there were 94 reports this year, an increase from 84 last year.

Business break and enters were slightly up, with nine reports for April to June, compared to eight for the same period last year. The year-to-date numbers show 16 reports in the current year, a small decrease compared to 17 last year.  

Vehicle collisions reported came in at 40 for the current period, compared to 39 for the same time last year. For the year to date, there were 111 reports in 2018, versus 113 last year.

A number of categories saw consistent decreases in total numbers.

Residential break and enters down

Residential break and enters came in at 30 for the second quarter this year, lower than the 35 reports last year. For the year to date, there were 61 reports, down from 87 last year.

Impaired driving reports saw a decline, with 32 reports for the second quarter this year, compared to 48 for the same time last year. The year to date count shows 77 this year, versus 103 last year. 

Property offences dropped, at 526 for the current period, compared to 629 last year. The year-to-date numbers show 1,189 property offences reported, compared to 1,300 for the same time last year. 

Criminal Code offences also went down. For April to June this year there were 372 reports, versus 399 last year. The year-to-date count shows 781 this year, compared to 904 last year for the same time.

For reports for missing persons, numbers show 33 reported for the period this year, compared to 55 last year. For the year to date, there were 69 reports this year, compared to 120 for the same time last year.

Angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW