Red Deer RCMP officials say they are making headway when it comes to at-risk youth, road safety, reducing organized crime, property crime and crimes against persons, according to a first quarter review of the benchmarks outlined in its Annual Policing Plan (APP).
This past April, Red Deer RCMP with the City of Red Deer released its APP, which outlines policing priorities for 2015. These priorities include reducing the impact of organized crime, reducing crime against persons, reducing property crime, contributing to safer youth and contributing to safer roads.
“Within the first quarter, we have seen reductions and/or improvements in all priority areas, including the disruption of three medium level crime networks,” said RCMP Supt. Scott Tod. “However, this effort has not been due, solely, to the efforts of the RCMP. Crime prevention through active citizen participation is the key to a safe community and we continue to work with schools, youth, community agencies and citizens to enable and promote a safe and healthy Red Deer.”
The APP, developed in consultation with the City of Red Deer and council, is one component of the City’s Safety Charter, which aims to enable and promote a safer community. It is a priority for citizens, City council and the RCMP, officials have said.
“We will create a safer community by being proactive, consulting with the community and stakeholders, and setting the right objectives based on statistics and our knowledge about what is happening in and around Red Deer,” said Tod.
Along with the APP update, second quarter crime statistics were released, aligning with the release of the first quarter APP report slated for April, May and June 2015.
In the second quarter of 2015, overall crime in Red Deer decreased by nearly 6%.
The biggest decrease in the second quarter was in the area of crimes against persons which decreased 14% compared to the same time last year.
Total property crimes decreased by nearly 2% in the second quarter compared to the same time in 2014. Offenses related to death however were up in the second quarter – last year there were no offenses related to death reported, while this year so far there has been one. Robbery offenses have also risen in the second quarter compared with last year with 27 reported robberies so far this year, compared to 22 in 2014. As well, kidnapping/hostage/abduction offenses have also increased with 11 reported incidents in the second quarter, compared to eight this time last year.
“Crime prevention and community safety continues to be a priority for the City,” said City Manager Craig Curtis. “Through our Safety Charter, we will continue to invest in and set meaningful targets that will result in a Red Deer where citizens continue to feel they are safe and have a good quality of life.”
efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
