Crime up 6% in Vernon so far this year: RCMP

Crime in Vernon rose by six per cent in the first half of this year compared to 2021, however, while Vernon RCMP dealt with more criminal cases fewer charges were forwarded to Crown prosecutors.

Recent crime stats released by the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP show that overall crime in Vernon increased by three per cent in the months of April, May, June making the total increase this year six per cent.

The spring months saw property offences rise by seven per cent. Overall this year property offences have risen by four per cent compared to 2021.

Crime involving Vernon's homeless population dropped by 10 per cent this spring and 16 per cent through the first half of the year.

The drop in crime involving the street entrenched population follows a general pattern in Vernon that saw crime involving the homeless drop by 25 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

Street entrenched files dropped by 67 per cent from 2019 to 2021.

While this spring saw fewer files submitted to Crown prosecutors, overall this year Vernon RCMP has forwarded 20 per cent more files to the crown than in the first half of 2021.

READ MORE: Crime rates in Okanagan, Kamloops skyrocketing on all fronts

Vernon RCMP received 5,072 calls for service this spring and 9,545 so far this year.

The calls for service numbers show a five per cent drop in the last quarter and are down by two-and-half per cent this year.

The statistics show the number of self-generated calls – where the police activity is from their own investigations and not calls from the public – increased by five per cent to 753 in this quarter.

Vernon RCMP also took 24 impaired drivers off the road and issued 312 tickets for various traffic offences.

While crime overall increased this spring, the 15 most commonly reported criminal offences, such as break and enter, assault, and vehicle theft, dropped by four per cent.

This spring, Vernon RCMP dealt with 4,888 cases classified in the 15 most commonly reported crimes compared to 5,102 in the same period last spring.

READ MORE: Kelowna's crime rate jumps 10% while numbers drop provincewide: Statistics Canada

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