VALLEY CRIME INCREASES

Robberies, sexual assaults and drug offences increased sharply across
the Valley during 2004, RCMP Insp. Tom Gray told Comox councillors on
Wednesday.

Robberies reported to the Comox Valley Detachment doubled from 21
reported in 2003 to 43 in 2004, according to RCMP statistics. Reported
sexual assaults increased by 44 per cent and drug offences increased
from 552 in 2003 to 774 in 2004.

"The increase in robbery is particularly concerning as this may be
indicative of a corresponding increase in addiction-related problems,"
Gray said.

Overall, police received fewer reports of assaults in 2004 than in
2003, Gray said.

Mounties continue to focus on drug trafficking on streets and in
liquor establishments and the local drug squad continues to target
marijuana grow operations, shutting down about one per week, according
to Gray.

The vast majority of reported robberies occurred in Courtenay, Gray
said. Police investigated 38 robberies in Courtenay during 2004, four
robberies in Comox, none in Cumberland and one in the rural areas.

Police had fewer complaints of large, outdoor parties during the
summer of 2004 than during the previous summer.

Gray said police expect to see the RCMP funding formula changed in
2007 to require rural residents to pay a greater percentage of
policing costs. Municipalities pay the lion's share under the current
formula which requires cities with a population over 15,000 to pay 90
per cent of policing costs, cities with a population from 5,000 to
15,000 to pay 70 per cent. Rural areas and municipalities with fewer
than 5,000 people are covered by a provincial agreement with the RCMP.

Municipal councils have complained about the formula for at least the
past 15 years, and the province has occasionally hinted at change, but
the formula remains in place.