Crime in Squamish was both up and down in 2004, depending on the category, according to year-end statistics presented to Squamish Council by the RCMP recently.
New Squamish RCMP S/Sgt. Mark Hennigar presented the year-end statistics to District of Squamish Council along with a glimpse into his policing plans for the future.
His report showed the total number of offences committed in Squamish during 2004 was 9,491, up from 9,188 in 2003. Hennigar's report showed 2002 was the quietest year in the last four with a total of 7,269 offences. In 2001, the RCMP logged a total of 7,954 offences.
Break and enters are up but assaults are down. The number of collisions in 2004 was down but the number of criminal code traffic offences committed in Squamish went up.
There were no murders or attempted murders in 2004. The police dealt with a total of 10 robberies in 2004 and half of those happened in the last three months of the year. Only five robberies were committed in 2004.
The number of vehicle theft offences totaled 158 last year, just one more than the year before.
Hennigar's statistics show a steady decline in the number of grow-op busts in Squamish. Only 17 grow operations were busted in 2004 while 34 were taken down in 2003. In 2002 the number was 48 and the year before it was 42.
Hennigar told council the size of the volunteer base in Squamish is massive through the Citizens on Patrol program, Crime Stoppers, the Auxiliary program and Victim Services.
"DARE [Drug Abuse Resistance Education] is active as well," said Hennigar. "With the unwavering assistance of Cpl. Rick Lebeuf and Todd Pope, our civilian volunteer coordinator, the new community policing station is becoming a reality."
Hennigar told the members of council the 2004 crime statistics indicate crimes against people went down.
Residential break-and-enters went up by 21 per cent but he noted business break-ins went down. "Liquor-related matters went up 17 per cent with 91 charges versus 33 in 2003," Hennigar said.
The Staff Sergeant said he hopes to create more partnerships in the future and he hopes those partnerships will lead to the discovery of efficiencies.
The District of Squamish expects to spend slightly more than $3 million for policing services in 2005.
