Prince George, B.C.- RCMP Superintendent Brenda Butterworth- Carr is not at all surprised by some of the increased numbers in the latest crime stats for Prince George and area.  ( see previous story)

 

In the City stats, reported sexual assaults are up 18% over 2009 but Superintendent Butterworth-Carr says that doesn’t mean there were more sexual assaults last year “ I know most of the cases are historical. It means people feel comfortable coming forward to lodge a complaint which in many cases is against a family member.”

 

The increase in weapons charges ( up 35%) and drug related charges (+6%) may be attributed to the coordinated approach the police have taken to target gang activity. “Many of the cases are self initiated so that shows we have been actively working on those issues.” She says 2010 may be a “spike” year as there has been a great deal of focus on gang activity and we should see weapons offences and drug related activity start to drop in the next two years or so.

While homicides are up with 7 homicides last year compared to 3 in the City in 2009, once again, that increase, says the Superintendent, is largely because of gang activity. She says the numbers could have been much higher had the RCMP not advised potential victims of the information they had gathered about threats to their safety.

 

On the rural crime side of the stats,   Chair of the Regional District of Fraser Fort George, Art Kaehn, says he is most concerned about the increase in break and enter and vehicle thefts in the rural areas . B and E’s are up 50% over 2009 numbers, and vehicle thefts have increased by 36%. “Those of us who live in the rural areas have always made it our  practice to look out for each other, and this tells me we aren’t doing that so much.” The good news says Kaehn, is that rural folk are reporting grow ops “That is something at will not go un-noticed in rural areas.”

 

The rural stats also show an increase in impaired driving charges, with 23 such cases last year compared to 10 the year before. Superintendent Butterworth-Carr says that is a direct reflection of targeted roadside stop checks near lakes and parks in the summer when police want to make sure people aren’t driving home under the influence after a day of sunshine and refreshments.

 

With so much of the criminal activity tied to Gangs, Mayor Dan Rogers says the focus, from the City’s perspective has to be on prevention and intervention. “Just last week we met with Northern Health to talk about some of the risk factors that influence young people to get involved in gang activity. We all have a role in this community to assist the RCMP in their endeavours.”

 

Mayor Rogers says he will continue to press the Solicitor General to ensure the RCMP have  adequate resources.