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Crime stats released

Third quarter crime statistics show property crimes are down by 18 per cent compared to 2013 and 57 per cent since 2008.
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Williams Lake RCMP Insp. Warren Brown.

Third quarter crime statistics show property crimes are down by 18 per cent compared to 2013 and 57 per cent since 2008, RCMP Insp. Warren Brown told city council Tuesday.

“Last year at this time we did have most of our prolific offenders out of jail over the summer and we did see an increase in crime,” Brown said. “Now 10 of the 12 are in jail, but I don’t suggest for a minute that is the answer for the community even though it does gives us a reprieve and until somebody comes up with a better answer for prolific offenders, it seems to be the best strategy for us.”

Calls for service have increased by one per cent from 2013 and reduced by 22 per cent — about 1,000 calls less — from 2008. The RCMP continue to identify prolific offenders, target drug dealers and work with stakeholders to reduce crime.

“We have found that having police officers out on the streets help reduced crime,” he said.

Williams Lake was one of the first communities to sign up for the Interagency Case Assessment Team, following a model from Vernon, to address domestic violence.

Key stakeholders work together to look at the most significant cases and provide safety planning.

“From that comes a lot of education and it really does allow us to gather community support,” he said.

A domestic violence unit at the detachment provides policies and a safety net to ensure all incidents are investigated thoroughly by police.

“We provide as much information as we can.”



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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