Crime exists in the Battlefords. Some would even argue crime is rampant in the Battlefords, and they wouldn't have to go any further than Statistics Canada to back up that claim.
Yet readers see only a smattering of crime reported in the pages of this newspaper and the News-Optimist. Why is that? I would suggest it is because the RCMP in this community are simply too busy fighting crime, apprehending criminals and responding to calls for assistance from the public, to report many of the incidents to the press.
The RCMP have a centralized e-mail system through which they release reports to the media. Through that system I receive reports from all across the province. They are usually fatal vehicle crashes, drug busts and other incidents of a serious nature, but we also frequently receive reports of break ins, vehicle thefts and vandalism from smaller detachments around the province. As I write this the Swift Current RCMP is reporting the theft of 200 litres of fuel from a grain truck parked beside a rural road.
The Battlefords RCMP issue press releases on a less regular basis. Again, I believe they simply do not have time. Serious crimes are brought to the attention of the newsroom, but day-to-day incidents are not.
One mirror into the work of the RCMP to hammer back crime has been monthly reports to town and city council. In addition to statistics the RCMP have traditionally highlighted a few specific incidents dealt with in the past month. This portion of the report has occasionally given the newsroom a heads up on what to be looking for in the court dockets, so readers can be informed of the consequences to individuals charged with crime.
It has been argued this portion of the monthly police report to city council serves only to paint a negative picture of the community. I disagree. Reporting about individual incidents serves to validate many of the anecdotal reports we hear about crime in our neighbourhoods and remind all members of the community to be looking out for the security of their property and loved ones, as well as those of the neighbours.
