Crime statistics were on the agenda at Port Hardy's last council meeting.
Port Hardy RCMP's acting detachment commander Sgt. Trevor Busch was in attendance at council's Oct. 22 meeting, where he spoke in depth about policing in the true North Island.
Busch noted the last six months have gone by very quickly, and it's actually his last week in the community as the RCMP's new detachment commander Staff Sgt. Kim Rutherford will be back in town next week.
Busch explained that due to policing being seasonal, "we have to make sure we are comparing the same month to the same month, and the summer being the busiest time typically with all the tourism that comes to town."
Busch confirmed the RCMP responded to 2527 calls for service from April to September, which is almost the same as the year before (2583).
Almost every category listed in the Port Hardy RCMP's crime stats were down, except for assaults, which were up 14 per cent.
"Some of the statistics like criminal harassment, 10 files where we previously only had one, makes a large increase," stated Busch, "and uttering threats was quite a large increase as well. Fortunately, however, the sexual assault category is all down."
Busch added that mental health related calls have been on the rise, and not just in Port Hardy, but all over Vancouver Island.
"Mental health related calls are up consistently around the province and around the island district."
He noted intoxication in public files are down in Port Hardy a very large amount, 23 per cent overall, which includes disturbances and general intoxication files.
"Our main strategy to deal with intoxication was to be more visible, do more foot patrols, get out to the park, get down to the business community," stated Busch, who then added the RCMP performed 226 extra foot patrols. "That's not responding to a call, that's getting the members out, talking with people, getting them out to try and get people connected with services, deter them from drinking."
Mischief, theft, break and enters and property crime statistics were all down in Port Hardy as well.
"Drug investigations, possession and trafficking, is up 30 per cent, and I think of that as a reflection of proactive work," said Busch. "The fact we're up 30 per cent is a reflection that we've made it a focus to go out and find drug traffickers and drug possessions, and we've had some pretty good successes that you guys know about in the last six months."
While traffic enforcement was slightly down due to RCMP members leaving the community, the RCMP have had a much higher number of prisoners being held.
"22 per cent is quite a lot more prisoners, so that also reflects on a lot of work for our support staff and guards who have to do more," said Busch.
Coun. Brian Texmo asked about the increased mental health calls, and Busch said a lot of those calls are about "self harm" which is not a criminal investigation but the police still have to attend every single time.
"We have noticed that is a very typical call for service, not just in Port Hardy but elsewhere as well," confirmed Busch.
Coun. Fred Robertson asked about the high number of prisoners being held, wondering if those were all Port Hardy arrests.
"Those are Port Hardy files," confirmed Busch. "Even though occasionally we do hold prisoners from the Port McNeill detachment, that's not included in the stats."
Mayor Pat Corbett-Labatt thanked Busch for his time spent in the community and then asked if the Port Hardy RCMP is still currently short staffed.
"My goal this summer was to try and fill those gaps," said Busch. "We had some delays with getting a staff sergeant, but Staff Sgt. Rutherford will be here now so that's good, and we're still waiting to staff the corporal vacancy."
He added they will hopefully have the corporal position filled in the next several months.
The RCMP listed three areas of interest in its 2024-2025 annual performance plan:
1. Address public intoxication - foot patrols around businesses, enforce LCLA, work with local support agencies.
2. Promote road safety - conduct road safety check stops, increase impaired driving charges, increase number of MVA VT written.
3. Enforce drug trafficking - seek out viable drug trafficking targets, increase drug offence charges.
There were 2527 files opened by the Port Hardy RCMP from April of 2024 to September 2024 (slightly down from 2583 opened in the same timeframe during 2023), which are listed below:
Assaults
Common / Trespassing – 110;
Assault w/ Weapon or CBH – 27;
Aggravated – 0;
Criminal Harassment – 10;
Utter Threats Against Person – 57;
Sexual assaults
Sexual Assault – 30;
Sex Assault w/Weapon or CBH – 0;
Sexual Interference – 5;
Aggravated sexual assault – 0;
Sexual Exploitation – 0;
Missing persons – 37;
Mental Health Act – 120;
Intoxication related disturbances
Intoxicated in public – 127;
Liquor violation tickets issued – 2;
Breach of peace – 61;
Secondary involving alcohol – 30;
Cause disturbance – 276;
Secondary involving alcohol – (not listed);
Mischief
Mischief under $5,000 – 49;
Mischief over $5,000 – 2;
Loss Enjoyment of Property – 95;
Bylaw Noise – 17;
Unspecified Assistance – 159;
False alarm – 67;
False/Abandoned 911 – 49;
Break and enter
Break and enter business – 0;
Break and enter residence – 13;
Theft
Theft from motor vehicle less than $5,000 – 5;
Theft from motor vehicle more than $5,000 – 0;
Shoplifting under $5,000 – 8;
Breach
Breach of Probation (Adult) – 12;
Breach of Probation (Youth) – 0;
Bail Violations – 92;
Drugs
Drug trafficking – 8;
Drug possession – 5;
Traffic enforcement
Criminal code impaired – 27;
IRP – 71;
Driving complaints – 24;
Violation tickets – 54;
Traffic notice written warnings – 28;
Motor Vehicle Incident Fatal – 0;
Motor Vehicle Incident Injury – 1;
Motor Vehicle Incident Over $10,000 – 6;
Other
Prisoners held – 361;
JJP Hearings – 63; and
Detentions from JJP Hearings – 21.
