Councillor Ron Crush expressed encouragement over statistics released for July by Battlefords RCMP City Detachment showing drops in several categories.
According to the July report filed by Staff Sgt. Phil Wilson of Battlefords RCMP, the city saw drops in July 2011 compared to the previous year in person offenses, break and enters, property offences and criminal code offences for the month. Person offences are down from 71 to 52, business break and enters down from seven to six, residential break and enters down from 17 to five, property offences were down from 280 to 226 and criminal code offences down from 191 to 151.
Calls for service for the month are down to 1,150 from 1,358. For the year, calls are down from 8,729 to 8,418.
Crush said he was encouraged during his remarks about the statistical report during a Aug. 22 council meeting.
"I continue to be impressed with the recent statistics with respect to break and enters especially," said Crush.
Crush also was happy with statistics showing an increase in drug offences from 10 to 22 and in liquor acts from 31 to 45, as he believes it indicates greater enforcement activity in those areas.
He adds he is also encouraged by the recent announcement North Battleford will be getting five additional police officers, two of them funded by the City.
Crush is encouraged the community will continue to see declines while the emphasis on prevention will be stepped up.
In comments he is getting from the community, Crush indicated people aren't as concerned as they once were when they see a police officer driving around. Crush noted people used to react by saying "where are they off to now?"
Crush, a longtime advocate for greater police visibility in the community, indicated people increasingly welcome the presence of the RCMP in their streets.
"There's definitely evidence out there, anecdotally at least, that people are seeing the presence as a positive thing rather than something to be concerned or alerted to," said Crush.
