The Prince George RCMP saw fewer files in 2023.
Prince George RCMP Superintendent Shaun Wright and Inspector Darin Rappel gave a “Year in Review” presentation to Prince George City Council tonight. (Monday)
According to Wright’s presentation, the RCMP responded to 44,881 files, with 1,680 charges forwarded to the Crown.
The presentation noted property crimes such as break-and-enters and mischief to property are down, but assaults are up.
Additionally, the RCMP received 8,397 calls for service in Downtown Prince George.
Wright added the effects of the decriminalization of drugs has been “very negative for the city of Prince George.”
“We’ve noticed an increase in a lot of drug trafficking to support the open drug use, and a lot of changes over the last one to one-and-a-half-years of violent gangs from the Lower Mainland pushing up into Prince George, which has resulted in many of the violent offences, including some of the homicides and shootings that we’ve had.”
Following the report, Mayor Simon Yu said his intention is to create a standing committee to look at the crime.
“I’m glad to see the numbers seem to be getting a little bit better, but certainly we’re not turning a corner, especially in some categories,” Yu said.
“We’re not trying to form a committee as just a place for a bitching session, we just want to gain a little bit better understanding of the situation in terms of being a city at the intersection of two major highways. perhaps more resources will be needed from the provincial government to deal with, specifically, the drug and the gang pieces.”
Other items on tonight’s agenda included a presentation from the Heritage Commission, and the possibility of sending an “Advocacy Delegation” to Victoria.
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