Chris Clegg
South Peace News
Increasing patrols in a cost-effective way and no security cameras strategically placed around town were the two clear messages sent from the public to High Prairie town council at a public forum to discuss crime June 24.
About two dozen people attended the forum held at the Performing Arts Centre in the Gordon Buchanan Recreation Centre.
Town of High Prairie CAO David Joy prepared an excellent overview of crime in town and presented 10 options to deal with crime.
“I’m as concerned as you are,” he told the audience.
The simplest way to combat crime is for council to increase funding to the RCMP or hire more peace officers; however, it comes at a cost, said Joy. He presented figures it would cost $100,000 per year for an extra peace officer and $150,000 for an RCMP officer.
“We’re very conscious of the tax burden (hiring more officers would have),” said Joy.
The perception that council has done nothing since last year’s public forum May 29 was also addressed. The old log tourist booth is being removed (it was magnet for the homeless), Mayor Brian Panasiuk met with the regional Crown prosecutor to address concerns, and council did move forward with purchasing security cameras – a move later opposed by the audience.
Citizens on Patrol was also recognized and credited with putting a dent in criminal activity.
Council shared a letter from Alberta’s assistant deputy Minister of Justice on behalf of Alberta Crown prosecutors Service Division.
“While some criminals may appear to be indifferent (to consequences), others might be driven by desperation, mental health issues, or addiction,” the letter stated.
The letter also addressed why all suspects are not charged.
“Criminal prosecutions only proceed if the evidence establishes a reasonable likelihood of conviction.”
And to address what the public perceives as criminals being released after being charged, “Catch and release modifications will go against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Every case that has gone in front of the Supreme Court of Canada has been unsuccessful in this pursuit.”
Joy’s statistics provided by the RCMP show that High Prairie’s total crime rate is 376 per cent above the national average. Violent crime is 272 per cent above the national average and property crime 410 per cent above. The 2020 statistics are dated and refer to High Prairie. In short, chances of being a victim of some type of crime in the detachment area is one in five, or 215 per cent higher than the average in Alberta.
Ten options for fighting crime were presented by Joy. The one that drew the most attention was security cameras at a cost of $87,000+. One man said they were “a waste of money” but another replied it gave law enforcement complimentary information and useful.
Joy remined the audience that for each $41,000 spent it increased taxes by one per cent.
“Please do not raise taxes,” the Hesse family told council.
Citizens on Patrol advocate Tammy Kaleta proposed moving the MITAA Centre from the downtown area to the medical building by the hospital in the town’s east end, far away from the downtown. Another person favoured shutting MITAA completely.
“Why do we even want the treatment centre (MITAA) here?” asked Jonathan Hesse. “These are the types of people you don’t want around little kids. I wouldn’t even locate it in town. Get rid of it.”
Merchant Barry Sharkawi attended and was one of a few who liked the idea of security cameras.
“I know it’s going to cost $87,000,” he said, adding continued efforts to lobby government must continue.
In closing, Joy promised the public would be consulted before council made any decision.