REGINA – Crime stats for the first quarter of 2016 show some trends are emerging surrounding property crime, and a large increase in sexual assault.
On Wednesday, the Board of Police Commissioners went over the March crime statistics at their monthly meeting.
The sexual assault rate going up 75 per cent compared to the same time period (January 1 – March 31) last year generated the most discussion for crimes against people.
This crime was reported 13 times in March 2016, compared to four instances in March, 2015. Year-to-date the figure stands at 42 sexual assaults, 18 more than the 24 reported in 2015.
Historically, this crime is under reported. Regina Police Service (RPS) Deputy Chief Dean Rae said they don’t know if this increase is due to a rise in instances or a rise in reports, but they do know it’s a concern.
“It means there are people in our community being victimized, and we take that very seriously. We’re examining that category to see if there’s some work we can do to help that,” he explained.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) coordinator with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) Stephanie Carlson said they’ve seen a rise in requests for service too.
These registered nurses have advanced training in forensic nursing and are called in on sexual assault reports.
She said that January through March is typically a slower time for SANE, but this January they had 10 cases compared to two last year.
Property Crime Rates Rise
The March crime stats reveal 234 vehicle thefts so far this year, up from 119. They also include an 18 per cent increase in theft under $5,000, with 1,003 instances.
Police said many of these “crimes of opportunity” involve people leaving keys in their vehicles, or having unlocked doors.
These are familiar factors, but not the only ones.
They believe the mild winter is another factor in this spike, simply because more people were out and about.
The economic slowdown being felt across the prairies is also believed to be a contributing factor in the rise of property crimes.
“Some of the opportunities that were available to people to make economic gains like jobs aren’t there now, so they’re finding other ways to make money,” explained Rae.
Along with these crimes of opportunity, break and enters are also on the rise. Year-to-date they’re up 35 per cent at 332. As of March 31, 2016 businesses have seen the biggest increase with 60 incidents, an 87 per cent increase.
Residential break and enters are up 31 per cent, rising from 118 in 2015 to 155.
Police recommend limiting tree cover and installing security lighting as ways to help curb break and enters.
Crystal Meth becoming more prevalent
“Meth is definitely a contributing factor to the rise in our property crimes,” Rae said.
He added that many investigations have involved suspects either using meth, or involved in the sale of the drug.
“We believe those individuals are responsible for a lot of what we’re seeing in terms of our break-ins and our thefts, and stolen cars as well,” he said.
Firm numbers haven’t been established, but police have seen a “gradual increase” in meth over the past year and a half in these crimes.
They aren’t the only ones noticing an increase. RQHR’s addictions services branch in Regina has seen a 235 per cent increase in clients struggling with meth since 2013.
“We’re hearing that it is inexpensive and very easily accessible, so that’s what’s causing, I think, us seeing more clients coming through our doors,” Troy Neiszner, addictions services’ detox manager, explained.
In the 2013/14 fiscal year the centre helped 76 people who identified meth as a problem, then 159 the next year, and 255 in the 2015/16 fiscal year. Eighty-two, or just under one-third, of those clients came to detox between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2016.
People coming into detox usually need 10 to 14 days in the 25 bed facility to get through their withdrawal symptoms. Neiszner said there’s no specific demographic coming in for help getting clean.
“Males, females, all age groups, and really all socio-economic backgrounds as well. There’s no real one finding for who our client is coming off of crystal meth.”