Local RCMP await approval for rural crime-reduction unit
While members of the Fort St. John RCMP detachment believe they are successfully fighting rural crime, having a dedicated rural crime-reduction unit would be a valuable tool in the detachment’s toolbox, according to acting detachment commander Staff Sergeant Scott Watson.
When S.Sgt. Watson and former detachment commander Inspector Anthony Hanson came to Fort St. John, they joined the Security Professionals Intelligence Network, which is a group of security professionals from industry who share information regarding thefts and other crime from industrial site, Watson recently told the Peace River Regional District’s committee of the whole meeting.
Both rural and municipal members were dealing with these rural crime issues, but Watson said they wanted to be more proactive and focus on intelligence sharing, in similar to SPIN, as criminals travel throughout the North and South Peace. Proceeds of crime, like copper thefts are being traded as far away as Grande Prairie, not just locally, he said.
But until BC Premier David Eby announced that there would be more funding available for provincial policing, there weren’t many resources available to put their ideas into action.
With that announcement, Hanson put together business case to create a regional crime control unit, Watson said. He proposed a seven-member unit, which could either have three members in Dawson Creek, and three members plus a supervisor in Fort St. John; or the whole team based in Fort St. John.
That proposal is currently sitting with district officers for review, before going to the criminal operations headquarters, which would then be presented to the province.
“If we’re successful, we would see that unit stood up, conservatively within two years,” said S. Sgt Watson. “That would be a game changer. Then we would have a dedicated unit that is focussed on rural crime reduction.”
Such a unit would be a valuable law enforcement tool in dealing with prolific offenders in particular, who are typically involved in a variety of types of crimes.
“When we get those prolific offenders into custody, you pretty much see a drop [in property crime] right away,” Watson said.
In terms of rural policing, Watson says that ideally a watch would have six constables and a corporal dedicated to rural policing. While there are 12 provincially funded members assigned to the Fort St. John detachment, when a call comes in, members respond regardless of whether they’re a municipal or provincial member. Ideally there would be both dedicated rural and municipal members on shift at any given time.
However, Watson believes that if only the 12 provincially funded officers the were available for rural policing, the public would see a reduction in service to rural areas.
“When we get those prolific offenders into custody, you pretty much see a drop [in property crime] right away,” Watson said.
“The way it blends now, at any given time you have the services of six officers available 24/7, whereas if you went to a 12-person model, you might not see 24/7 policing.”
Prior to decriminalization of hard drugs, the Fort St. John detachment had dedicated municipal crime reduction and drug units. Since decriminalization came into effect, Watson says those two units have been blended into a special enforcement team.
“They’re targeting criminals, our prolific offenders. Be it drugs, be it property crime, problem residences, primarily within the municipality, but they also assist with stuff outside of the municipality.”
Initially, Watson said the RCMP didn’t think that decriminalization would alter their workload because in the years leading up to decriminalization, there had been very few charges for possession alone brought by Crown Counsel. What they have seen, is an increase in toxic drug interactions, he said.
“There’s a blend of problems, the opioid crisis, the homeless situation that have kind of all come together, and decriminalization is another piece of that, that is resulting in what we’re seeing in our communities today,” Watson said.
Some of what is being seen in communities in recent years is an increase in violence, something Watson said used to be rare. Now it seems that the criminal element is more prone to violence, leading to the shootings and other violent crimes throughout the Peace region.
“There’s definitely an increase in violence,” he said.
The plan moving forward is for the local officers to continue to do what they can, with the resources available while waiting for the proposal to be approved by the province.