MORE DRUG CHARGES LAID

Hinton has seen a rise in some jurisdictions of crimes being committed
in the area. The major areas that have seen a rise under the Criminal
Code of Canada are break and enters, motor vehicle thefts and thefts.

Hinton has also seen a large increase in the number of drugs charges
being laid.

"We've responded to the Community Advisory Committee's request to
focus more on drugs and the constables have become more diligent,"
said Hinton RCMP Staff Sgt. Ron Fehr.

"Constable Mark Kay is responsible for a lot of that, although the
others have also done a lot."

46ehr attributes the increase in thefts to store owners being more
diligent in prosecuting shoplifting, which is an on-going problem.
Thefts have increased by 31 per cent while break and enters have gone
up by about 28 per cent over last year's figures.

In the provincial statutes, the number of intoxicated persons has gone
down by more than half from 48 to 22, but liquor charges have
increased from 148 last year to 160.

Although Hinton has seen some increases in crimes in some areas, it
has also seen decreases in others. The number of assaults has gone
down by nine per cent while liquor-related traffic offences decreased
from 122 last year to 81 this year. There have also been 11 per cent
less motor vehicle accidents from this year to last.

Although Hinton did implement a youth curfew bylaw late this summer,
Fehr said the RCMP doesn't yet know how the bylaw is working because
it just came in as the students were going back to school. He added
that the RCMP need more time before being able to say how the curfew
by-law is working out.