TAKING A BITE OUT OF CRIME

Other police departments in B.C. are taking note of Kelowna's success
in reducing crime.

Kelowna's crimefighting efforts -- reflected by across-the-board
improvements in crime statistics presented to City Council Monday --
were the subject of discussion at the recent Union of B.C.
Municipalities convention.

RCMP Supt. Bill McKinnon says other forces are asking him how Kelowna
does it.

"We're quite proud of that fact," said McKinnon. "We think we've
turned things around here. Statistics for the first nine months
demonstrate that.

"If we can continue with our zero-tolerance approach in the downtown
core and continue with drug sweeps, it will have a direct impact on
this community in every other statistic.

"I've always said that drugs are the feeder to secondary crimes. All
the break and enters, property crime and domestic violence go down
because of a reduction in drug crimes."

For the first nine months of this year, compared to the same period in
2005:

- -- Crimes against persons were down 3.9 per cent; robberies down 27.8
per cent.

- -- B&Es were down .07 per cent

- -- Theft of vehicles was down 36.7 per cent.

- -- Theft over $5,000 was down 13.3 per cent.

- -- Theft under $5,000 was down 10.2 per cent.

- -- Drug offences were down 25.8 per cent.

There was an increase in prisoners in jail of 19.3 per cent from 4,087
to 4,876, reflecting a higher arrest rate. Calls for service were
about the same at just over 53,000.

McKinnon conceded that criminals have moved from the downtown to other
parts of the city, most notably Rutland and the Mission. He said he is
meeting with people from outside the downtown to discuss the spreading
out of criminal activity.

"That is a concern of mine," he said. "Where we're heading with our
crime reduction strategies, dealing with prolific offenders will take
care of some of that."

He said the bait car program was partly responsible for the decreases
in vehicles thefts, but that people are also being more careful.

McKinnon and the city seem to agree on upcoming provincial legislation
known as Grant's Law to deal with theft of gasoline. They want
pay-at-the-pump to be around-the-clock rather than just at night.

"I'd like to see it 24/7," said McKinnon.

Mayor Sharon Shepherd said the city has written the provincial
government asking for a round-the-clock payment at the pump policy.