There wasn't much change to report in the January 2011 crime statistics for the Battlefords city RCMP detachment.
The statistics were compiled by Staff Sgt. Phil Wilson and the report was presented to council at Monday's regular council meeting. Wilson was not present at the meeting.
According to the January statistics there were 985 calls for service, down from 1,094 from January 2010. As well, there was not a lot of change to report compared to the same month last year.
Person offences were down from 70 to 68. Property offences went up to 168 from 158, while criminal code offences were down from 164 to 146.
Liquor act offences were down to 21, from 23.
Business break and enters went down from five to two, while residential break and enters went up from nine to 12. Drug offences went up from 10 to 17.
The most significant spike came in motor vehicle collisions, with 59 reported in 2011 compared to 23 in 2010.
There were 29 instances of impaired operation of a motor vehicle compared to 17 the previous January, and 145 provincial traffic offences compared to 131. There were 14 municipal bylaw offences compared to seven the year before.
In the police report for January Wilson drew attention to a number of activities.
A Jan. 1 call had RCMP members responding to an assault in progress at a residence. As members approached, one of the males directed his pit bull to attack the officers. The dog began barking but did not attack. The male was arrested and WPD Ambulance was called to assist the victim, while bylaw officers were called to deal with the pit bull that was barking out on the street, The adult male ended up charged with four counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of resisting arrest and one of assault causing bodily harm.
Later in January, police arrested four male youths in connection to a Jan. 10 incident in which three males were observed entering a garage and stealing a drill and toolbox. The stolen property was eventually recovered.
RCMP also responded to a complaint of a fight at the Garage nightclub in North Battleford. There, members found two men who had been assaulted during a robbery. An adult male was later arrested and changed with two counts of assault and one count of robbery.
Finally, members received a complaint Jan. 24 of a robbery by knifepoint where perpetators had fled by vehicle. The driver was pursued and later arrested, and charges have been laid against an adult male for two counts of adult robbery with an offensive weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, disguise with intent, flight from police officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and participation in a criminal organization.
A total of 17 foot patrols were recorded during the month.
During the discussion of the crime statistics, Councillor Trent Houk noted the increase of 25 per cent in residential break and enters was a concern, though Mayor Ian Hamilton noted that the number was still very small. Houk also voiced concern about the increase in collisions and stressed people need to be careful on the roads at this time of year.
