LOCAL CRIME STATS SHOW LARGE INCREASE

Fairview Post -- Fairview RCMP Sgt. Dave Hammond presented Town council with
the police's second quarterly report for 2004, July 20.

Residential break and enters increased from five to 19 charges between 2003
and 2004. Property damage under $5,000 increased from 17 to 32 charges.

But Hammond said the majority of the increase in each case is due to the
work of one individual.

"A couple of the [increases] in break and enters and vandalism, in
particular, were the efforts of one person," Hammond says.

"In those types of crimes that's quite often the case. When you solve one
you end up solving a whole bunch of them because it's the same individual or
a group of people who are doing them. "

The Fairview area experienced a rash of break and enters between March 9 and
May 25, 2004.

On June 19, over a dozen buildings were spraypainted with the word "Bully".
A suspect has since been arrested by RCMP and is due to appear in court July
28.

Drug charges have risen from three in the first quarter to 14.

But, says Hammond, "It's not necessarily because of an increase in the drug
problem here by any means, it's just a matter of more concentrated
enforcement in that area."

Hammond says the drug charges were in relation to, "a little bit of
everything. Cannabis and cocaine are the two big ones. There is crystal meth
around but we haven't seen it as being a significant problem yet. But, it's
cropping up everywhere nowadays."

Cocaine is a problem facing many communities as well, he says.

The result of a large supply and increased demand has brought the drug into
smaller communities, he says.

"It used to be a big city drug but that certainly hasn't been the case for
some time now. It's just so readily available now that being in a small town
doesn't make a difference."

Hammond says the detachment has also focused its efforts on enforcing
traffic safety like stop signs, seat belts and child restraints. He says he
wants members, when available, to be visible in playground and school zones.

"Impaired driving is a fairly big problem in Fairview and the area," he
adds.

"Even the courts have commented here that the number of impaired drivers is
quite high for such as small community."

Despite some of these increases, Hammond says statistical fluctuations are
bound to occur from quarter to quarter.

Assaults, motor vehicle theft, municipal bylaw charges and motor vehicle
collisions are down.

Hammond says, "Even though the numbers have gone up in certain areas, we're
solving more [crimes] as they occur too and that's due in large part to the
hard work of our members [who are] putting in a lot of hours."