Crimes against people increase

Although drug offences and crimes against people have dramatically increased in the first nine months of 2012 over the same period as last year, Sundre RCMP say law and order in the community is still healthy and on track.

In a report presented to town council's governance meeting on Nov. 13, RCMP Cpl. Ryan Hodge noted the detachment recorded 67 crimes against people during the first nine months of 2012. That compares to 47 during the same period in 2011. Hodge's report also showed that RCMP dealt with 32 drug-related crimes in Sundre for the first nine months of 2012 compared to just 13 during the same period last year.

“It seems we had a lot more domestic violence calls. We also had an increase in problems outside the bars, which is out of the norm from the last couple of years. But it is not targeted. It is a random thing that is happening. The assaults are not related to a gang problem,” said Hodge, adding reports of domestic violence tend to go in “spurts”. “We don't have a problem with it.”

Hodge added there is always a fluctuation in statistics. He said that while crimes against persons are difficult for the police to stop, the detachment's clearance rate is high.

He noted the higher than usual drug statistics reflect the increased work and emphasis the detachment made this year in combating the issue.

Meanwhile, the third quarter statistics also show that property crimes and Criminal Code traffic offences are down this year compared to the same time period in 2011.

So far this year Sundre RCMP has dealt with 126 calls on property crimes compared to 148 during the first nine months of 2011. Local Mounties have investigated 33 cases of Criminal Code traffic offences during the first nine months of 2012 compared to 45 during the same period of 2011.

The statistics also show that RCMP dealt with an increased number of collisions on the road this year compared to 2011.

During the first nine months of this year, Sundre RCMP was called to 86 collisions, including seven that had injuries and 79 with property damage. There were no fatalities. In the same period for 2011, local Mounties responded to a total of 52 collisions, including three with injuries and 49 with property damage. There were no fatalities.

Meanwhile, council members were also told on Nov. 13 the Sundre RCMP detachment currently has six constables, one sergeant, one corporal, two office staff and a Victim Service unit.

Council was told that for most of this year the detachment was two members short. As of Oct. 1 the detachment has been down three full duty members. Hodge said in his report that a new member has arrived as one replacement. He said he is anticipating another replacement to fill in for another departing member.