A new report on crime is not painting a rosy picture for Estevan.
According to Statistics Canada's annual crime severity index, incidents of violent crime rose by almost 30 per cent in 2010. Overall the index jumped by 12 per cent when compared to figures from 2009.
Chief Del Block of the Estevan Police Service said the department is concerned by any increase in the index but the big jump in violent crime certainly caught their eye. However, he admitted the news wasn't unexpected.
"We've been saying that we have an increase in crime in the city and especially violent crime. And I suspect that we are going to see further increases when get the results for 2011 and I think we are going to see them continue until we get it in check," said Block who feels the city's drug trade is partly responsible for the increase in violent crimes.
"The drug trade is a driver for a lot of it, absolutely. Whether it be domestic violence, collecting drug debts, some of that violence comes from there, the drug trade is the driver.
"Also, we have a huge influx of people coming into town and probably 98 per cent of them are good, law-abiding people but you also get a few who are not. Just the violence they use typically wasn't something that we dealt with in the past, it's new in the last two to three years and seems to be on an increase."
The crime severity index is released annually by Statistics Canada and is a measurement of the types of crime in a community. It also takes into account other factors such as population.
Estevan's 2010 CSI was 133 which is up from 2009 when it was 118.5. The index for violent crimes rose from 83.6 in 2009 to 108 in 2010. For non-violent crimes, which includes such offences as theft, rose from 131.9 to 142.6.
"Even that is on an increase."
Block said combatting the amount of violent crime in the city will continue to be a focus for the EPS as it impacts not only the public at large but also officers.
"When you get that big an increase in violent crime it becomes an officer safety issue. The officers always have to be on their toes, they never know what they are going to and it creates more dangerous situations than we have been dealing with in the past five to 10 years."
The report should also serve as ammunition in the City's ongoing quest to add another provincially funded officer to their roster. Currently, the EPS has three officers that are funded by the province but Block has made no secret about his desire to add a fourth.
He noted the provincial government has said in the past that the crime severity index would be one of the factors in their decision making process and hopes this recent news will only help their cause.
"When you see an almost 30 per cent increase in violent crime, clearly it says that you need more resources. I'll be very disappointed because if we can't justify one in this city I don't see how any city can. When you see a 30 per cent increase in violent crime clearly we need some help."
