DRUG CHARGES UP IN KELOWNA

Drug charges in Kelowna jumped 60 per cent last month compared to
October 2006, city council will hear Monday.

A total of 247 drug-related charges were laid, compared to 154 in the
same month last year.

"Members of the drug enforcement unit continue with strong enforcement
throughout the downtown core, and have been very successful with a
large number of arrests and reports to Crown counsel," RCMP Supt. Bill
MacKinnon writes in his monthly report to council.

In other crime categories, the usual mixed bag of trends was apparent
again, with offences rising in some areas and declining in others.

For example, assaults were up 23 per cent, to 167 from 136, and
spousal assaults more than doubled, to 42 from 17.

On the other hand, break-and-enters were down 24 per cent, to 108 from
143, and motor vehicle thefts were down 50 per cent, to 57 from 114.

Reports of thefts of less than $5,000 in value were also down
noticeably, dropping 27 per cent, to 380 from 519.