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November 07, 2023 - 12:05 PM
There was a 22.3% decrease in calls for service in the Kelowna's downtown compared to a 27.4% spike in the Rutland neighbourhood over the past year.
The decrease in crime in downtown Kelowna is a result of the area becoming a targeted “hot spot” for enforcement, along with police enhancing their visibility within the area, according to an RCMP report with data from the period from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, tabled at a city council meeting yesterday, Nov. 6.
It appears Rutland has become more of a magnet for crime. Kelowna RCMP stated in the report that it has recently worked in conjunction with the Rutland RCMP Sub Detachment to shift resources to increase police visibility and responsiveness in the area.
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The police have also witnessed a steep increase in fraud, up by 56.7%. According to the report, these frauds include online and phone frauds, banking fraud and forgeries, and real estate fraud, but it does not include identity fraud.
Kelowna also experienced an overall 5.7 % increase of persons offences which includes a 20% increase in sex offences.
However, the city has seen a 7.5% decrease overall in calls for service compared to 2022. This has also come with a substantially decrease in business break and enters, which are down by 43.9%, as well as residential areas which have seen a 10.7% decrease.
Kelowna RCMP said that these reductions can be partially attributed to its data and intelligence-led strategies, which include a “relentless” focus on repeat property offenders.
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Illegal drug trafficking has also declined by 9.1%, along with overdose-related calls for service which are down by 36.2%.
There has also been less theft in the past year. Most notably there has been a significant 40.7% reduction in robberies, 38.3% in bike theft and 40% in auto-theft.
The Kelowna RCMP Traffic Section has reportedly observed a 5.2 % reduction in collisions causing injury and death. It has also issued 87.8% more traffic violation tickets. RCMP noted this increase compares to a period in 2022 when traffic enforcement declined due to staffing challenges, which now been amended.
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