The RCMP presented its third-quarter report for the months of July to September to the Ladysmith committee of the whole on Nov. 12, highlighting a significant reduction in various types of criminal activity in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
During this three-month period, total calls for service in Ladysmith decreased by approximately half. Assaults dropped from 10 to four, thefts from 26 to 13, mischief/property damage from 19 to four, and theft from vehicles fell from 11 to five.
Acting detachment commander Cpl. Tracy Dubnyk told the committee that the decrease was driven by several factors, including a reduction in repeat offenders in the community, as several individuals well known to the RCMP were in custody during the reporting period.
Dubnyk also credited the Nanaimo-based COR program (Community Outreach Response Team), provided by Island Health, which offers crisis response and street-based outreach for mental health and substance use issues.
Comprised of nurses, social workers, clinicians, rehab workers and peer support workers, COR crisis services provides support for anyone experiencing urgent distress related to mental health and/or substance use issues and is accessed through the Vancouver Island Crisis Line by calling 1-888-494-3888.
COR homelessness services deliver street-based support for people experiencing ongoing homelessness, including mental health, substance use, and emotional assessments. Services are available by calling 250-741-7645.
Dubnyk noted that proactive referrals for mental health and elder care reduced police interventions, especially for individuals who previously required multiple daily calls for assistance.
"I can think of a couple who could generate four calls a day, two calls a day, sometimes 10 calls a week. We're no longer providing the police escort program, no longer having to intervene if they're creating an issue in a public place in the town of Ladysmith," Dubnyk said.
However, with the release from custody of some individuals in the current quarter, the RCMP noted an uptick in calls in October and November. While Dubnyk praised the effectiveness of current supports like the COR program, she emphasized that expanded resources are still needed to address underlying issues and reduce reliance on police custody.
"They can't spend the rest of their life in jail for property offences," Dubnyk told the committee.
The RCMP's third-quarter report highlighted the effectiveness of collaborative resources like the COR program and proactive policing strategies in reducing crime, while acknowledging the need for expanded support to address ongoing challenges.
Coun. Tricia McKay called RCMP's increased use of the COR program "fantastic". Meeting chair Coun. Jeff Virtanen offered thanks and appreciation for the work the RCMP does as well as their involvement with community events saying, "That's really, really important especially for small towns."
