Two weeks ago, Barrhead RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds told County of Barrhead councillors that the crime rate is on the downward trend, at least in the county.
And I for one believe him. In today’s world, it easy to become jaded and question the validity of what our public officials are telling us, especially when all we hear through conventional and social media are stories about crime and corruption, however, the truth of the matter is it is not as dire as these sources make it out to be.
Of course, when Dodds says the county’s crime rate is at a four-year low, that doesn’t mean it is no longer a problem.
Crime is still happening and because of technology and people’s ability to instantly broadcast their negative experiences to a wide audience, it makes it appear that crime is rampant and that the RCMP and other government initiatives are ineffective.
Again, the numbers don’t bear that out.
Although Dodds wasn’t prepared to give the reason for the decrease, he suggested part of it could be the work of the RCMP’s crime reduction units (CRU). which he said has been instrumental in taking a number of criminals off the street.
CRUs are a mobile team of eight RCMP members as well as support staff that travel around the province helping local detachments solve crimes, round up people wanted on warrants and the like.
Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley credits these teams, as well as other initiatives that were developed as part of the government’s Rural Crime Strategy, for reducing the number of property crimes reported in rural communities by 10 per cent in the last year.
However, as you read on Page A6, Woodlands County councillors and Fort Assiniboine/Timeu councillor Dale Kluin in particular take issue with Ganley touting the success of the Rural Crime Strategy, saying property crime is getting worse, at least in his area.
And perhaps he is right. The statistics that Sgt. Dodds and RCMP ‘K’ Division released to the media did not break down the numbers to the specific regions of the county. But again, I believe the RCMP statistics are correct and this is an example of how hearing about specific incidents colour one’s perceptions.
Even if Kluin is right about crime in the Fort Assiniobine area, that doesn’t mean that the Crime Reduction Strategy isn’t making a positive impact. Just think how much more criminal activity there would be in our area and the province if the CRUs had not taken those reported 500 individuals off the street.
Certainly, Woodlands County councillors have the right to question the effectiveness of any government program, and they have asked for the minister or a representative to explain how it works and has benefited the community, but I believe it is a step in the right direction.
