City of Powell River councillors were provided RCMP statistics for the fourth quarter of 2024, as well as year-end statistics, outlining crime trends for the qathet region.
At the April 1 committee of the whole meeting, Powell River RCMP operations non-commissioner officer, sergeant Graham Kerr, provided a detailed outline of statistics compiled last year.
The first item Kerr dealt with was calls for service. He said in the fourth quarter, there was a four per cent decrease in calls for service, compared to the same period in 2023. The overall calls for service increased by 257 calls during 2024, representing a four per cent increase when compared to all of 2023.
“The years 2024 and 2023 were fairly similar in terms of call volumes,” said Kerr.
Police checks for well-being were similar, with 582 calls in 2024 and 585 in 2023, according to Kerr. Mental Health Act calls decreased significantly in the fourth quarter and for the whole year. The fourth quarter saw a 38 per cent decrease and the full-year statistics showed a 45 per cent decrease comparing 2024 to 2023.
“It’s a good improvement,” said Kerr.
Missing persons cases increased significantly in 2024, with 77 in 2024 and 36 in 2023, for a 73 per cent increase.
“These increases are largely due to a change in procedures,” said Kerr. “An example is with Lift [Community Services] supportive housing, they would call us more often when not seeing some of their participants for a given time period.”
In terms of overall persons crime, the fourth quarter saw a one per cent decrease, but the year’s statistics showed an increase of two per cent, from 427 in 2023 to 434 in 2024.
“This is pretty flat when compared to the previous year,” said Kerr.
Overall assaults increased by five per cent in 2024, with 202 in 2024 and 193 in 2023.
Sex offences had a 10 per cent decrease in the fourth quarter but a 19 per cent increase in the year overall, according to Kerr. There were 44 reported sex offences in 2024 and 37 in 2023.
Overall property crime was comparable in the fourth quarter and increased by three per cent, from 935 in 2023, to 962 in 2024.
Break and enters were also outlined by Kerr. He said that residential break-ins decreased by 28 per cent, from 40 in 2023, to 29 in 2024.
“That’s a positive reduction that we saw in 2024,” said Kerr.
Business break-ins decreased by two per cent year-over-year, with 40 in 2024 and 41 in 2023.
There was a 26 per cent decrease in theft under $5,000, with 119 in 2024 and 149 in 2023.
Shoplifting remained relatively stable, increasing by four per cent. In 2024, there were 96, compared to 92 in 2023.
Drug offences saw an increase in 2024, with 37 cases, compared to 20 in 2023. Kerr said overall drug investigations increased by 85 per cent when compared to all of 2023.
“There was a change in provincial drug laws in terms of decriminalization,” said Kerr. “We participated in more proactive investigations and people were reporting more.”
Drug trafficking increased by 33 per cent, from nine in 2023 to 12 in 2024, again attributed by Kerr to more proactive investigations. He then pointed out some investigations of note during the fourth quarter.
There was a drug trafficking investigation that involved a traffic stop of a suspicious vehicle. A vehicle search was conducted and the officer located brass knuckles, 21 grams of fentanyl, 37 grams of crystal meth, seven grams of cocaine, along with scales and packaging for trafficking, said Kerr. The matter is still being investigated.
There was also a child luring investigation.
“It’s something we’re seeing more and more of,” said Kerr.
“A youth had been contacted through social media by an adult, resulting in an online romantic relationship. The suspect came to Powell River and met the youth in-person, was later confronted and fled the Powell River area. Our local investigators were able to identify the suspect and obtain assistance from another jurisdiction, and were able to apprehend that individual. That matter is still before the courts.”
In terms of other updates, body-worn cameras are confirmed for rollout in Powell River in June, said Kerr. He added that the detachment is to receive a new cadet, also in June. The general investigation section now has one corporal and one constable. Kerr said the plain clothes unit had been collapsed for the most part of the last five years.
“That will assist us in our most proactive investigations, as well as help us with any serious investigations,” said Kerr.
A police car has been replaced and another one will be replaced in August, according to Kerr.
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