Flin Flon’s crime rate increased modestly last year, but the rise in violent offences was far more dramatic, newly released statistics show.
Overall offences were up eight per cent in 2014. That was an increase of 74 crimes over 2013, for a total of 1,031 offences, according to figures from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Crimes categorized as violent shot up 46 per cent, or 54 offences, for a total of 171 offences. Violent offences represented 17 per cent of all Flin Flon crime.
Sgt. Shayne Smith of the Flin Flon RCMP said crime trends are never static and invariably rise and fall.
“It would be difficult, if not impossible, to attribute a single cause to any increase,” he said, “as crime is influenced by many factors, such as demographics, social issues, etcetera.”
More than half of the violent-crime increase stemmed from level-one assaults, which were up 67 per cent, or 29 offences, for a total of 72 offences in 2014.
The more serious level-two assaults – those involving a weapon or causing bodily harm – decreased by one offence, for a total of 23 offences. There were three level-three (aggravated) assaults, the same as in 2013.
Level-one sexual assaults more than doubled for a total of 10 offences. Sexual violations against children increased by one offence, for a total of five offences.
Reports of uttering threats were up 70 per cent, or 14 offences, for a total of 34 offences. There were three incidents of forcible confinement or kidnapping, up from zero in 2013.
Although Flin Flon’s violent crime rate soared 46 per cent in 2014, it has been higher in the past. In 2012, the rate was 14 per cent higher than in 2014.
Going back further, violent crime in 2004 was 31 per cent lower than it was in 2014.
In 2014, property crime rose 15 per cent, or 61 offences, over 2013 for a total of 472 offences. This increase did not include break-and-enters, which decreased by six incidents for a total of 42 offences.
Non-motor-vehicle theft under $5,000 surged 51 per cent, or 29 offences, for a total of 86 offences. Shoplifting was up by four offences, for a total of 20 offences.
Motor-vehicle thefts increased by one offence, for a total of six offences. Instances of fraud more than tripled for a total of 16 offences.
The crime of mischief rose 12 per cent, or 33 offences, for a total of 317 offences. There were half as many arsons year-over-year for a total of three in 2014.
Drug violations declined by four offences, for a total of 19 offences. Among those charges were four offences each of cannabis trafficking and cocaine trafficking.
Impaired-driving offences dropped more than one-third for a total of 19 offences. As police have pointed out, it is difficult to know whether such stats mean fewer people are driving impaired – or whether fewer are getting caught.
For all of the attention paid to identity theft across North America, there were no reported instances of this crime in Flin Flon in either 2013 or 2014.
The data shows that 73 per cent of reported crimes were cleared by charge or other means in 2014. That was down from 81 per cent in 2013.
Flin Flon RCMP charged 154 people in 2014, the same as in 2013. Eight per cent of those charged last year were youth, down from 14 per cent the previous year.
Smith said his detachment has in recent years employed proactive approaches in dealing with crime.
Crime prevention and reduction initiatives revolve around areas such as sexual exploitation, elder abuse, Internet and social media safety, and violence in relationships, he said, with awareness presentations held at locations such as schools and community agencies.
Smith said the detachment also maintains “active and ongoing contact” with habitual offenders, ensuring court-imposed conditions are met. If there are breaches, charges are laid.
The detachment has further implemented a downtown strategy, which includes foot patrols during periods of peak concern around public drunkenness and other crimes.
Smith said this approach has proven successful as people are charged when they are found to be breaching conditions.
The Creighton RCMP detachment, which serves Creighton, Denare Beach and Sturgeon Landing, reported a 12 per cent drop in per-capita crime in 2014.
Creighton RCMP responded to 536 offences last year, down by 61 from 2013. Violent crime decreased nine per cent for a total of 108 offences.
Combined, level one, two and three assaults were up 10 per cent for a total of 85 offences. Sixty-eight per cent of those were level-one assaults, the least severe form of assault.
Property crime in the Creighton region fell by 21 per cent, or 42 offences, for a total of 176 crimes. Break-and-enters rose 38 per cent on a per-capita basis, or 13 offences, for a total of 45 crimes.
Of all crimes reported in 2014, 68 per cent were cleared by charge or other means. That was up slightly from 65 per cent in 2013.
Creighton officers charged 281 people last year – 127 more than in Flin Flon. Twenty-one per cent of those charged by the Creighton RCMP were youth.
Source: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics
