Crime rates hit pre-pandemic levels

• Need an increase in staff and resources
• Mental health and substance use are factors

As crime rates return to pre-pandemic levels, Kelowna RCMP face an increase in mental health calls and a lack of resources.

According to a presentation of crime statistic during a recent city council meeting, there was an increase in property and persons crime through the second and third quarter of 2021.

The service responded to over 1,600 mental health related calls over the same period.

This comes alongside a recent rise in the courts changing how it deals with people experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, or addictions, with less jail time.

“I understand and fully support that progression and modernization,” RCMP Supt. Kara Triance said. “Dealing with social issues in health and social development is the way forward.”

However, she said those support services are not yet at fully staffed or adequate to address the problems in the community.

She said working to decrease property crime and social disorder in the community is important. This can include helping people get access to services who want to get free from substance use or want to remedy what is driving them to addiction.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge asked how other jurisdictions have been helping advocate for mental health and substance use solutions.

Supt. Triance pointed out how the province is struggling with the current lack of staffing and facilities for people facing these issues.

“On street psychiatric nurses who could attend with police officers… to be able to address those with the most complex needs in our businesses and on our streets would be very helpful,” Supt. Triance said.

She also mentioned how safe supply may be an important consideration to help decrease petty crime.

“Safe supply would allow individuals to move forward with life in a way that they’re not having to commit crime for their reliance on substance use,” Supt. Triance said.

However, when asked about advocacy to higher levels of government by the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police, Triance made note of the province’s proposal to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.

Although the association supports the move, its members, including Triance, believe the proposed amount of 4.5 g is higher than what they say equates to personal consumption.

“We would be saying collectively as B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police, to lower those amounts that the province is proposing for personal possession amounts,” Triance explained.