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Little change in Battleford calls for service

Overall calls for service to RCMP from Battleford residents, compared to last year, are largely consistent, according to S/Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt. Woolfitt gave a presentation about Battleford's calls for service at Monday's town council meeting.
S/Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt
S/Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt

Overall calls for service to RCMP from Battleford residents, compared to last year, are largely consistent, according to S/Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt.

Woolfitt gave a presentation about Battleford's calls for service at Monday's town council meeting. Numbers refer to a period from January to September 2018.

Year-to-date changes include a decrease in property offences from 322 last year to 205 this year. Criminal code offences also decreased from 92 to 54.

Police have been giving out more tickets, as they were at 66 last year, up to 83 this year. False alarms were also up from 53 to 81, in part due to home alarm systems.

Overall, year-to-date calls for service are 827 this year, compared to 855 last year.

"I don't know if that's due to people not reporting, or if it's also partly due to some of the strategic crime reduction activities we've been involved in," Woolfitt said.

According to a letter signed by Woolfitt included in the public council package, targeted crime suppression initiatives continue and the detachment is developing a long-term strategy.

"This strategy will target those persons identified as prolific offenders who require more police attention to curb their criminal activities. This work will run in parallel to the provincial enforcement initiatives."

According to the letter, "based on intelligence, analysis of crime trends and consultation with community leaders, the Provincial Crime Reduction Team conducts targeted enforcement that involves any or all of the following: strategic crime analysis, high visibility patrols; tracking chronic, prolific offenders; tackling street-gang related activity and executing arrest warrants."