The Battlefords City Detachment of the RCMP saw crime numbers dip in several categories in the month of March.
Calls for service were down to 848 for the month compared to 1184 last March 2010. As well, the March declines have contributed to an overall dip in crime numbers in several categories in 2011.
The numbers were compiled by RCMP Staff Sgt. Phil Wilson who presented the numbers at the April 18 meeting of North Battleford municipal services committee.
The March numbers saw person offences down compared to March 2010 from 83 to 67, residential break and enters down from 13 to 5, property offences down from 266 to 163, criminal code offences down from 155 to 111, liquor act offences down from 29 to 23, impaired operation of a motor vehicle down from 23 to 21, and municipal bylaw offences down from 20 to 13.
On the flip side, drug offences were up to 19 for the month from 10 previously.
Business break and enters saw an increase to 2 from 1, and provincial traffic offences rose to 110 from 105. The number of motor vehicle collisions was unchanged at 26.
Calls for assistance were down to 69 from 84. False alarms were unchanged at 77.
So far in 2011 there has been a significant reduction in crime incidents across the board. Numbers show a 4 percent drop in person offences, 38 percent drop in business break and enters, 23 percent drop in residential break and enters, 28 percent drop in property offences, 19 percent drop in criminal code offences, and a 19 percent drop in liquor act offences.
However, 2011 is seeing noticeable trends showing increases in drug and traffic offences.
Drug offences were up 38 percent for the year while motor vehicle collisions are up 49 percent. Provincial traffic offences were up 8 percent, impaired operation of a motor vehicle is up 22 percent, and municipal bylaw offences wer up 6 percent.
So far in 2010 there have been 2916 calls for service compared to 3247 the previous year.
Members logged 17 foot patrols during the month.
The positive numbers were welcomed by city councillors. Coun. Ron Crush said at the meeting he believed the crime declines could be in response to greater visibility by the RCMP force in the community.
Despite the generally good numbers, the month of March was still an active one for the RCMP as they responded to a number of incidents during the month.
Two males were charged with break, enter and theft following a March 18 break-in at a local business.
As well, police responded to a March 23 robbery at the Happy Inn. A call was received indicating a male wearing a bandana jumped over the counter in an attempt to steal alcohol. The male then escaped in a vehicle with two other males. Members located the vehicle and charged two men with robbery, while a third male youth offender was charged with robbery and with disguise with intent to commit an offence.
Finally, Warman RCMP assisted in arresting two men who were later charged in connection with a March 31 hold-up at knife point of a woman outside Tim Hortons in North Battleford. The men were transported back to North Battleford and charged with robbery with an offensive weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and possession of property obtained by crime.
