Review shows crime rate falling in West Kelowna | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Review shows crime rate falling in West Kelowna

Image Credit: (SOURCE/RCMP)

The West Kelowna crime rate dropped 30 per cent from 2009 to 2011 according to an RCMP annual review of community services.

RCMP brought the results of the review to council Tuesday and the numbers show a steady decline in crime. The crime rate moved from 70 per 1000 permanent residents to 54 in 2010, and then down again to 49 in 2011. The case load for West Kelowna RCMP members also decreased by approximately 30 per cent from 91 in 2009 to 64 in 2011.

"I know the residents of West Kelowna will find this news very encouraging, as West Kelowna Council has heard many people say that a safe community is their top priority," says Mayor Doug Findlater. "A 30 per cent decrease is significant and it is very gratifying to see that the hard work of our RCMP officers is obviously paying off."

West Kelowna had 21 municipal officers and the highest officer to population ration amongst 30 other municipalities with populations over 15,000 from 2009 to 2011. That translates to one officer for 1,305 people. In 2012, the District added a school liaison officer and a drug investigator to its ranks.

The District describes the officer to population ratio as high, but says despite this, the crime rate of 40 in 2011 was one of the lowest amongst the 30 municipalities, which had an average crime rate of 66.

West Kelowna RCMP has 46 members including 23 for West Kelowna, 16 for provincial policing, four for Peachland and three for First Nations policing.

The District entered into a municipal policing unit agreement April 1, 2009 requiring an annual report reviewing service levels, workload and calls for service. Quarterly policing statistics are also provided to council as part of its strategic planning updates throughout the year.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013
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