Message from Castlegar RCMP detachment commander, 2024 policing stats
By Castlegar Source
I would like to share our 2024 Year-End Statistics with you,
Sgt. Monty Taylor, Detachment Commander of the Castlegar RCMP. We continue to see an overall decrease in the number of calls for service in our community, dropping from 3,915 in 2023 to 3,711 in 2024. I am encouraged by the reduction in total Criminal Code files—down from 1,074 in 2023 to 947 this year—and note that assaults have dropped from 117 to 87, and robberies from two to one. On the other hand, we have seen an increase in sexual offences (up from 17 to 24) and break and enters (rising from 26 to 31). It remains our priority to work closely with community partners, elected officials, and various agencies to address these emerging crime trends, support our citizens, and ensure Castlegar remains a safe place to live and work.
2024 Castlegar RCMP Year-End Statistics
Homicides/Attempted Homicide 0 (2023 0);
Assaults 87 (2023 117);
Sexual Offences 24 (2023 17);
Robbery 1 (2023 2);
Auto Theft 9 (2023 7);
Break and Enters 31 (2023 26);
Theft from Motor Vehicle 45 (2023 56);
Total Persons/Violent Criminal Code 233 (2023 237);
Total Property Criminal Code 542 (2023 658);
Total Other Criminal Code 172 (2023 179);
Total Criminal Code 947 (2023 1074);
Motor Vehicle Collisions 142 (2023 135);
Motor Vehicle Collisions with Fatal 1 (2023 4);
Impaired Driving Criminal Code 25 (2023 26);
Impaired Driving – Motor Vehicle Act Immediate Roadside Prohibitions 116 (2023 46);
Motor Vehicle Act Violations 509 (2023 416);
Negative Contact with Youth 6 (2023 8);
Mental Health Related Calls 102 (2023 96);
Files Involving Alcohol/Drugs 409 (2023 281);
Domestic Violence Files 20 (2023 14);
Check Wellbeing 136 (2023 143);
Suspicious Person/Vehicle/Occurrence 129 (2023 113);
Unspecified Assistance 70 (2023 38);
Fail to Appear Court 59 (2023 65);
Total Calls for Service 3711 (2023 3915).
Every year the Castlegar RCMP identifies priorities in the community. These priorities are identified by crime trends and feedback from the community and elected official. With the priorities, initiatives are brought forward where we as well partner with community, Provincial and Federal agencies to reduce crime and victimization. This year the priorities in regard to crime and victimization are:
- Traffic Safety;
- Substance Abuse;
- Reduce Property Crime;
- Reduce Mental Health Calls;
- Public Education and Awareness.
Overall, when compared to previous years, the numbers have remained fairly consistent in each crime category, though there has been a decline. In the year 2021, there were a total 4587 calls for services, with 4031 calls in the year 2022, 3889 in the year 2023, and in 2024 a total of 3711 calls for service. All it can take is one or a couple individuals to either drastically increase or decrease the numbers. Working with our partners we can proactively work together to thwart and prevent anti-social behaviours and for those who break the law it is our job to investigate those crimes with the Courts holding the responsible person accountable.
In regard to the increase in sexual assault related complaints the Castlegar RCMP experienced an increase in calls related to online and digit explicit images being taken and shared to others without consent. Noticing this trend, with our Police Based Victim Services, funding was secured to deliver presentations in the area schools in the month of October to educate the youth from grades 4 to 12 about on line safety, legislation surrounding sharing intimate images, and consequences.
The increase in impaired driving Motor Vehicle Act Immediate Roadside Prohibitions were are result of police officers having the ability to dedicate proactive enforcement. This increase has also increased the statistics in regard to Files Involving Alcohol/Drugs, which increased to 409 from 281 in 2023. The remaining increase in regard to Files Involving Alcohol/Drugs was also attributed to the changes in the drug possession laws which occurred last year. Challenges were recognized in regard to these changes and amendments were again made to restrict the use of drugs in public places. These amendments have decreased drug use in public settings and have provided police the ability to address associated complaints and concerns when received.
Sgt. Taylor of the Castlegar RCMP echoes Sgt. Wicentowich of the neighboring Trail Detachment’s concern in regard to the volume of individuals failing to attend their court dates. Police routinely arrest individuals after they fail to appear for their court date. This has proved quite a burden for the police and may contribute to the perception of a revolving door justice system. In some cases, additional crimes are being committed while the individual is out on bail. Bail hearings, previously held in the Court House, are now regularly conducted from within the detachment cell blocks. This has resulted in resource pressures to operational police offices and detachment administrative staff. The process removes officers from the road whereas this function was previously taken care of at the court house and by BC Sheriffs. The BC Prosecution Services presents the matters before the court and most people are released back into the general public even though some have missed multiple court date appearances, or committed new offences.
In one 2019, a matter that is still before the Castlegar courts, the individual repeatedly failed to attend their court date. In the five year period, there has been twelve warrants for their arrest on this specific matter after continually failing to attend court, while committing additional crimes in this time period. When factoring the court dates of the other matters they have had before the courts, and additional warrants for their arrest, there has been approximately twenty warrants for their arrest in a five year period. This individual is again at large with a warrant for their arrest, while police continue attempts in locating them to again bring before the courts.
The Castlegar RCMP look forward to working with community in the upcoming year.
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