The provincial government has replied to a call by Mountain View County for action to address rural crime concerns.
In September, the county sent the minister of justice a one-page issues summary outlining concerns and calling for followup action.
The county’s inter-governmental communications committee prepared the summary.
“Like many of our rural counterparts, and as articulated by the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, there is continued concern within rural and remote communities in Alberta regarding the trends in criminal activity in these areas,” the summary started.
“We are also concerned with the lack of successful prosecutions due to an over-burdened criminal justice system which results in very little deterrent for criminal activity and a heightened potential for repeat offenders."
The committee asked the department to “develop a strategy to relieve the backlog of cases currently facing the provincial court system, through ensuring an adequate number of judges and prosecutors,” and “propose amendments to the federal Criminal Code to increase the minimum sentencing perpetrators of property crime can face.”
During last week’s council meeting, council received and reviewed a response letter from Senior Assistant Deputy Minister Bill Sweeney.
“There are more police officers per capita in Alberta today than there were 10 years ago, with the Alberta government investing more than half a billion annually into policing, in order to assist in ensuring Alberta’s communities remain safe and vibrant,” said Sweeney.
All Alberta communities receive support through specialized services such as the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams and other programs such as the Integrated Offender Management program and new crime reduction units, he said.
“While the government of Alberta provides funding and supports for policing, the allocation of resources remains an operational decision within the authority of each police service to ensure resources are utilized and deployed in the best manner for their communities and in response to emerging trends,” he said.
Regarding calls for changes to the Criminal Code, he said only the federal government can make changes in that regard.
“As only the federal government can make or amend criminal laws, the government of Alberta must work within the existing legislative framework,” he said.
Sweeney also provided an overview of landowner property protection rights.
“The Criminal Code of Canada provides for measured response to protection of property and person, and does not allow the use of deadly force, except to protect a person from death or grievous bodily harm,” he said.
“This is a federally enacted law and the courts have repeatedly ruled deadly force is not considered reasonable when in defence of property alone.
“The best recourse is to ensure all property is secure to prevent ease of theft, and to ensure police are called at the earliest opportunity if a crime is occurring, is suspected to occur, or if residents are in danger.”
Research is currently underway into the linkage between increased property crime trends, opioid and other drug addiction, and the proliferation of street gangs and organized crime groups, he said.
Council accepted Sweeney’s letter for information.
