The latest RCMP statistics for the District of Sechelt show an increase in calls for service and priority one calls.
Staff Sgt. Jennifer Prunty presented statistics to Sechelt and SCRD elected officials in closed meetings earlier this month, and provided those numbers to Coast Reporter.
In Sechelt, there were 1,181 calls for service, with 181 of those being priority one calls. There were more calls for service in the area for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same time in 2022, which saw 1,030 calls, including 117 priority one calls. But fewer charges were laid: 221 compared to 233 for the same quarters in 2023 and 2022.
Of those calls, there were 154 related to assaults compared to 136 in the previous fourth quarter; 40 involved a weapon or cause bodily harm. Sexual offences declined from 25 in 2022 to 20 last year for the same period, while calls with the domestic violence flag decreased to six from 15.
Auto and bike thefts both decreased, to 16 from 20 and to 19 from 29 respectively. Break and enters rose across the board: to 85 from 46 for businesses, to 39 from 21 for the “other” category, and to 23 from 18 for residences. Frauds increased to 98 from 75. Mischief to property rose to 165 in 2023 from 127 in Q4 2022, both a significant increase from the same period in 2021, which saw 29 mischief to property calls. Shoplifting in Sechelt decreased to 77 from 83, though there were only six shoplifting calls for the same period of 2021.
Like Gibsons, Sechelt also saw an increase in cause disturbance, to 253 from 230. Mental health flags increased to 103 from 87, while check well-being decreased to 53 from 183. There were fewer motor vehicle incidents, but more calls regarding impaired operation of motor vehicles to 82 from 59.
