Overall call volume was slightly down year over year in Nanaimo for RCMP officers, however serious and property crimes saw increased frequency. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

year in review

Nanaimo police see increase in property crime & priority files, but overall drop in call volume

May 16, 2023 | 3:21 PM

NANAIMO — Overall call volumes have dipped slightly year over year, but the amount of serious crime still remains for local Mounties.

Supt. Lisa Fletcher, officer in charge of the Nanaimo RCMP, presented her annual report to City Council on Monday, May 15, showing 45,082 calls for service in 2022, a five per cent decrease from 2021.

Many factors were behind the drop, including some provincial changes regarding policing of minor drug possession.

“The discretionary enforcement of drug possession has dropped right off in anticipation of the legislation that has come in,” Fletcher told Councillors. “Our focus is on the higher level drug trafficking, drug production as opposed to the street level.”

From the number of calls for service, 875 Criminal Code charges were laid and the detachment is on pace for similar numbers this year too.

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Serious crimes still remained at higher-than-desired levels.

When compared to 2021 weapons possession saw a 21 per cent increase last year, while break and enters rose nearly 15 per cent.

The detachment also dealt with five homicides last year compared to four in 2021.

Data presented by Fletcher shows of the over 45,000 calls responded to last year, 2,094 were considered a top priority, up marginally over the number of similar calls the year prior.

Also up, slightly, were property offences.

“We have seen a slight increase in that area, when we broke down the stats it’s still impacting a small percentage of our community. Obviously, the areas that we know it has a greater impact is impact to businesses in terms of theft, break and enters and shoplifting.”

Fletcher praised the newly added Community Safety Officers, who are just over halfway through their first year of operations.

She said they have become “a very strong partner” in dealing with a variety of calls.

“We are able to do a bit more of a measured response in terms of having the right resource assisting. If the Community Safety Officers can manage it, fantastic, it allows us to apply our services in other areas and when they do need additional enforcement we’re there as partners.”

Traffic stops also showed a changing pattern of impaired driving.

“We are seeing overall a downward trend on impaired drivers by alcohol and then having to look at impaired by drug is always a possibility as society shifts in its consumption.”

Fletcher added a 2020 Supreme Court order, dubbed the Jordan Decision, which outlines requirements to a timely trial or other court process, challenges how officers deal with offenders.

She said ensuring both parties have equal access to investigative materials and meeting often tight deadlines means police are forced to release some offenders before an investigation can really materialize.

“When the charge is laid is when the clock starts towards the timely court date. Sometimes we see the public not understanding why someone has been released, not recognizing charges may be forthcoming.”

Community policing volunteers were also a strong aid for the local detachment with 40 individuals putting in 971 hours of work last year mainly doing speed and school zone monitoring.

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