Pubdate: Tue, 09 Sep 2008
Source: Valley Echo, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Valley Echo
Contact:  http://www.invermerevalleyecho.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2140

B.C. CRIME RATE LOWEST IN 30 YEARS

British Columbia has reached its lowest crime rate in 30 years,
declining for the third year in a row.

The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistic's latest report shows a
large decrease in crime with regard to nonviolent crimes such as theft
and motor vehicle theft, while drug rates rose by 10%.

The report also showed a 9% drop in property crime rates, even though
B.C. continues to have the highest recorded rates in this category.

Columbia Valley RCMP Staff Sergeant Doug Pack said this could be
attributed to police action targeting prolific offenders.

"In 2005 we saw a spike because we had a rash of property crimes at
the same time," he said. "There were well over 200 break and enters by
the same people who were caught, charged and convicted.

We have, overall, throughout the province, adopted a better focus on
prolific offenders. When 20% of your offender population is committing
80% of your crime, and if you deal with those offenders effectively,
you're going to see those numbers drop."

In comparison to the provincial results, however, the Columbia Valley
seems to be doing well. In terms of crime rate, the valley was only a
small number above the provincial 2007 average.

"The provincial average is 83 or 85, and we're up to about 105
criminal code offences per 1,000 population," Pack said. "It doesn't
mean we're a crime-ridden society, it just means we're a small amount
above, but we have dropped down since 2005."

The reasons for the declining provincial average haven't been put down
to any particular crime initiative, but Pack said the Columbia Valley
police have been more focused and determined to close
investigations.

"Our guys are pretty diligent when it comes to carrying out
investigations," he said.

The report also showed slight decreases in violent offences committed
by youth in 2007 after an increase in 2006. With the introduction of
the Youth Criminal Justice Act in 2003, the amount of youths charged
has dropped dramatically. The program diverts youth who have committed
non-violent and less serious crimes from the formal justice system.

Pack said he hasn't noticed any significant changes in youth crime in
the valley in the past year, but he said drug offences are definitely
posing a problem in the area.

Possession offences, specifically of cannabis and other drugs, have
been responsible for a 10% hike. Drug crimes have increased over the
past decade resulting in a 10-year high of 28,632 offences reported in
2007, about 3,000 more than in 2006.

Pack said drugs are always a problem wherever they are because they do
little to contribute to the well-being or health of the community.

Even so, he said there was a link between property and drug crime with
regard to fuelling addictions.

"There is a correlation between property crime and drug crime," he
said. "Even people who use it for their own use, they have to buy it
from someone who is involved in a criminal lifestyle, and then it
helps someone higher up."

Drugs harm the lives of many people and Pack said it was important for
the community to understand that drugs have more victims than just
those addicted to substance abuse.

"Ask any family who has a family member who is trying to overcome a
drug addiction and they'll tell you it's not a victimless crime," he
said.

The number of youths charged in correlation with the increase in drug
use, has also dramatically increased. Statistics show a 20% increase
in the number of youths charged for drug-related crimes involving
cocaine since 2006. However, arrests for cannabis rose by only three
per cent, indicating a trend with youths and harder drugs.

Pack said that even if this trend was the case, the community should
be extremely concerned with the level of drugs youths start off taking.

"If kids are jumping right into the hard stuff, whereas traditionally
they would start out on the traditional side and move up from there,"
he said. "It would be very difficult to treat that trend. If people
are bypassing 'small' drugs and going to the hard stuff, it's a big
concern."
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath