‘Stable downward trend’ of property-related crime in FSJ

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John’s RCMP detachment is reporting a “stable downward trend” in crime rates for the second month in a row. 

In a report provided to the City of Fort St. John council on April 27th, the Fort St. John RCMP detachment detailed a “stable downward trend” in property-related offences reported by businesses and residences since February. 

Sergeant Jaime Moffat, the detachment’s acting officer in charge, explained that property-related offences included theft of and from vehicles and break-and-enter offence reports. 

“The reduction in calls for service this year, when compared to the same period last year, indicates a stable to downward trend in property-related offences,” Moffat wrote. 

The report indicated an increase in impaired-driving investigations, with 19 reported in March compared to seven in February. Moffat explained this was attributed to “proactive traffic enforcement and enhanced patrol activity” by RCMP members. 

“The overall reduction in file counts may be influenced by the prolonged winter conditions, which limit public movement and activity, as well as proactive measures taken by some local businesses to enhance their security presence,” Moffat stated. 

Moffat explained increases in coordinated, multi-agency collaboration have had a “positive and measurable” impact on the detachment’s service delivery in Fort St. John, with “repeat clients” being connected to “appropriate supports and services that address underlying risk factors.” 

“This intervention has resulted in a reduction in calls for service for many identified individuals,” Moffat said. 

Throughout March, the Fort St. John RCMP detachment received 761 calls for service, with 592 originating from within city limits and the remaining 169 coming from the “surrounding rural areas.”