Declining crime rates highlighted in New Brunswick RCMP annual report

FREDERICTON – A continuing decline in crime rates is a highlight of the 2014 “In your community” report that was released by the New Brunswick RCMP on Thursday.

The report looks at some of the past year’s investigations, successes and challenges, and highlights work that officers and other employees do to keep communities safe from drugs and organized crime.

The report for last years shows a 6 percent decline in property crimes and a 2 per cent decline in crimes against individuals, compared to the 2013 report.

“The New Brunswick RCMP has adopted a proven, evidence-based and intelligence-led approach to policing over the past several years and the results are showing,” Assistant Commissioner Roger Brown said in a release on Thursday.

“By making better decisions about how we address crime and putting an enhanced focus on crime prevention, crime rates have continued to decline in our communities.”

The release goes on to sat that police will continue their involvement and engagement with community members to work to keep the province safer.

One of the few area seeing a marked increase are sexual interference, internet luring and exploitation which saw a 15.6 per cent increase -or 26 more charges  – than in 2013.

Offences involving child exploitation increased by 40 per cent in 2014 partly because of the RCMP’s involvement in Operation Snapshot III, a national investigation aimed at people possessing, creating and sharing internet child pornography.

The report also showed that traffic fatalities are at an all time low, however RCMP point out that 35 per cent of those killed in traffic collisions in RCMP jurisdiction last year weren’t wearing a seat belt.

The RCMP maintains they will continue to educate drivers and enforce the laws around traffic safety to ensure safer roads for everyone.

The entire “In your community” report can be found here: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/nb/2014-annual-report-in-your-community.