Over the last five years, the provincial crime rate increased by 26 per cent where the national rate didn’t change.
During a briefing on crime trends in Fredericton on Thursday afternoon, Public Safety Minister Kris Austin says New Brunswick had the highest crime severity index in Atlantic Canada for the past five years.
“We are seeing increases in property crime under $5,000, breaking and entering and motor vehicle theft just to name a few. While there have been increases in several areas, there have been decreases in homicide, robbery and arson,” Austin said.
As a rural resident, Austin said he is not surprised to hear about increased property crime.
“My colleagues and I hear from New Brunswickers every day about how they have fallen victim to a property crime or they are seeing it in their communities. I recognize the effect this is having on our province. All crime has an impact whether it’s a community mailbox being broken into or a lawnmower stolen from a shed this all affects how people feel in relation to their safety in their communities,” Austin said.
Austin is proud of the legislation the Higgs government has introduced surrounding the theft of copper wire and catalytic converters.
He encouraged New Brunswickers to report all crimes no matter how small they may seem.
Austin said this will help the government and law enforcement know where and what types of crimes are happening.
According to the provincial government, it has invested $7.6 million since April 2021 to reduce crime through various initiatives.
Some are listed below:
· $2.3 million in 2021-22, for the RCMP to start Provincial Crime Reduction Units which focus on high-level drug crime.
· $2 million in 2021-22 in the Safer Communities Programs, which includes the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) program, and enforcement efforts targeting contraband tobacco and cannabis.
· $3.3 million this year to create Integrated Drug Enforcement Units. These units include police officers and peace officers from the Department of Justice and Public Safety and focus on street-level and mid-level drug crime.
New Brunswick Police agencies are working to improve what they do well and see how they can improve through partnerships, intelligence collection and growing public trust.
Integrated Enforcement Units have law enforcement teaming up to target drug trafficking, illegal weapons and more.
From April 1st to December 1st, police agencies made 159 drug seizures and made 328 arrests related to drug crime.
More than $808,000 was seized along with 311 weapons.
Woodstock police Chief Gary Forward who also serves as president of the New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police said these units compliment local police resources.
“This is culminating in a better understanding of what is taking place,” Forward said.
DeAnna Hill is the Assistant Commissioner and commanding officer of the RCMP in New Brunswick.
“The relationship between all New Brunswick law enforcement agencies is outstanding, and I am excited to once again participate in a truly collaborative effort to reduce crime in our communities across the province. I look forward to seeing the successes it will bring to enhance public safety.” Hill said.
We are working with our law enforcement partners across the province to make our communities safer and reduce crime.https://t.co/9bFBL3UC7l pic.twitter.com/FoDy5Cuioy
— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) December 8, 2022
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