Pubdate: Tue, 04 Sep 2007
Source: Banff Crag & Canyon, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007, The Banff Crag & Canyon
Contact:  http://www.banffcragandcanyon.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1033

CRIME STATS SHOW NEED FOR ACTION

Suppose we look at the crime statistics between Whistler and Banff 
and start to feel good about ourselves.

Here we are, two mountain towns where skiing and snowboarding are the 
favourite winter pastime.

We're both populated with a lot of young service workers here for a 
season to make money and have fun.

We both attract thousands of tourists on any given day.

But crime wise, Whistler has more of a problem.

They have more violent crime, property crime and drug crime than Banff.

Should we feel happy about this?

How could we?

Banff still has its share of crime. There are still drugs and 
violence on the streets.

While it may be lower than Whistler, violent crime in Banff climbed 
14 per cent in 2006 according to the Canadian Centre for Justice.

Even though we're better off than some, we still have a lot of work 
to do to keep crime at bay.

The Bar Watch program has been a successful way to curb violence at bars.

With bouncers in communication with police officers, they can quickly 
call for help if something gets out of control.

More programs where there is collaboration between police and 
citizens is needed to help crime levels.

Building that working relationship with the RCMP is the best way to 
give people the desire to watch their own community and report 
criminal activity.

If there were thousands of eyes out there watching the streets 
instead of just the police, maybe it would deter some of the crime 
that's seen out there.

Then maybe we could share this collaborative spirit with other 
communities -- like Whistler -- to help them with their problems.

And it won't become a contest to see who has the lower crime rate.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman