While Nanaimo RCMP have received fewer calls for service since 2019, the rate of severe, violent crimes continues to increase. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

crime trends

Nanaimo RCMP receive fewer calls despite jump in violent crime

Apr 12, 2024 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — While reported crime is down over the last five years, the severity of crimes being committed is on the rise in the Harbour City.

Insp. Andrew Burton with the Nanaimo RCMP broke down the statistics during an April 10 public safety committee meeting, which looked at calls for police service from 2019-2023.

When asked if people being hesitant to report a crime is affecting crime rates, Burton said the numbers fluctuate for many reasons, but said police are concerned it could be a factor.

“I encourage people to pick up the phone and make the call. I think it’s easy to get frustrated and say ‘oh nothing is going to get done, I’ve called before, nothing is going to get done.’ I can tell you nothing will get done if you don’t call the police.”

In 2023, 45,321 calls for service were made to Nanaimo RCMP, down from a peak of 51,729 in 2019, with a five-year average of 47,547.

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The increase in severity, as indicated by the Crime Severity Index (CSI), is mostly due to a jump in assaults, robberies, weapons offences, and homicides.

Property crime decreased by 29 per cent over five years, with break and enters alone decreasing by 46 per cent.

CSI is determined by the number of police-reported incidents for each offence, which is multiplied by the weight (average sentence) for the offence, totalled together and divided by the population total. (Nanaimo RCMP)

Burton said these stats help them determine where they should direct their resources.

“They are a tool and we often use the stats to identify what we call ‘hot spots’ where we could look to upstep our enforcement… issues like unstamped cigarettes, or youth gathering, things like that, that’s where we can increase our enforcement.”

People being detained under the Mental Health Act have increased since 2020, hitting a peak of 813 in 2023, while mental health-related files increased by nine per cent from 2022-2023.

Impaired driving offences have also steadily increased since 2019, but Burton said that could be from increased enforcement efforts.

As a Nanaimo resident for almost three years living on the south side, Burton was asked what he felt about public safety in the community.

He said based on the stats, he’s “comfortable with where we’re at.”

“Is there always room for improvement? Yes, there is. Do we have some social issues that may not necessarily be criminal in nature? Absolutely. This is my tenth stop along my policing career in 31 years so I have been to another place or two and I recognize some of the situations we’re seeing here are global.”

While comparing Jan. 1 to March 15 of this year to last year, total calls for service have dropped almost nine 9per cent, with a reduction in almost every category of crime except for traffic offences (+8.2 per cent), and federal statutes, which increased by 500 per cent.

“Six files sounds significant when you say 500 per cent. Federal statutes would be things like the Customs Act, tobacco seizures, Harbour Commission Act, DNA Identification Act, and the Firearms Act. So I don’t want anybody to start losing their mind over a 500 per cent increase, because when you put it into perspective, it’s not tragic.”

Crime stats comparing Jan. 1- March 15, 2023 to the same period this year. (Nanaimo RCMP)

Burton also touched on their detachment 2024 priorities, including continued work with the Nanaimo Repeat Violent Offence Intervention Initiative (ReVOII), increasing their efforts against impaired driving, and gang awareness and prevention strategies for local youth.

While he said morale at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment remains high, they’re having “challenges” staffing certain positions, like their Indigenous Policing Services (IPS) unit.

Insp. Burton believes they “haven’t done a fantastic job” policing alongside their Indigenous partners, as a lack of IPS officers means the responsibility falls on general duty officers.

“These are specialized members that work in IPS, so we really got to pick up our game and get reengaged with our communities to build truth through enhanced communication… it takes one sour thing to turn things. I don’t think we’ve turned it, but we’re mindful of the fact that it can happen.”

He said country-wide, RCMP detachments are facing a similar issue: not enough recruits.

“There’s not a lot of people who want to do this job anymore,” said Burton. “So we’re doing what we can to make it more attractive.”

Burton commended the City of Nanaimo’s community safety officer’s (CSO’s) efforts which he said lightened the RCMP’s workload.

CSOs respond to about 1,000 calls per month, and conduct around 30-40 wellness checks on marginalized individuals daily, according to Burton.

The City of Nanaimo will review the almost two-year-old CSO program later this month, with the possibility of expanding the service area outside of the downtown.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow