Slight dip in 2018 North Okanagan crime stats

VERNON – The latest crime numbers reported by the North Okanagan RCMP show a minor decrease in crime in 2018 compared to the year previous.

Quarterly crime figures released by the Vernon-North Okanagan detachment Jan.15 state there was a 0.1 per cent decrease in criminal code offences in 2018 compared to 2017, and a 3.72 per cent decrease in property crime last year.

While overall figures for 2018 show a slight decline in crime, the last quarter of 2018 saw an almost 20 per cent jump in criminal code offences and a nearly 25 per cent increase in property crime. The report states road check stops increased 30.43 per cent in 2018 and there was 11.9 per cent decrease in alcohol-related traffic enforcement.

The report compares figures from October, November and December in 2018 with the same months in 2017. The report states the crime statistics are a sampling of the 15 most commonly reported Crime Codes that have the greatest impact on communities and points out there are over 700 Crime Codes used by Canadian police.

The report also highlights the Vernon Serious Crimes Unit secured charges in the last quarter of the year for a homicide that took place in 2017, and attempted murder in 2018. The report also identifies 16 prolific offenders, 10 of which are in custody, six which are not. The report also states in Vernon and Coldstream 54 drivers were suspended or charged for impaired driving.

The report says six new positions funded by the City of Vernon have all been filled.

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