Crime dropped in Castlegar during 2024, but some categories, including sexual offences, increased.
According to Castlegar RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Monty Taylor, total calls for service in the community dropped from 3,915 in 2023 to 3,711 in 2024. Total annual calls have seen small drops each year for the past four years.
Taylor says he is encouraged by the reduction in total Criminal Code files, down from 1,074 in 2023 to 947, and that assaults dropped from 117 to 87.
On the other hand, sexual offences increased from 17 in 2023 to 24.
Taylor says one reason for the increase is an uptick in calls related to online and digital explicit images being taken and shared without consent.
Noticing this trend, local police and victim services staff arranged presentations at area schools last fall to educate youth from grades four to 12 about online safety, legislation surrounding sharing intimate images, and consequences.
Break and enters rose from 26 to 31, but total Criminal Code property offences dropped from 658 to 542.
"It remains our priority to work closely with community partners, elected officials, and various agencies to address these emerging crime trends, support our citizens, and ensure Castlegar remains a safe place to live and work," said Taylor.
Impaired driving roadside prohibitions jumped from 46 to 116 in 2024 and total files involving alcohol/drugs increased from 281 to 409. But Taylor says this is partially due to dedicated proactive enforcement.
He also says last year's changes in drug possession laws, which included restrictions on public usage, affected the numbers.
"These amendments have decreased drug use in public settings and have provided police the ability to address associated complaints and concerns when received," said Taylor.
Concerning the fluctuation of numbers within specific categories from year to year, Taylor says sometimes just one or two people can make a big difference.
"All it can take is one or a couple individuals to either drastically increase or decrease the numbers," said Taylor.
"Working with our partners we can proactively work together to thwart and prevent anti-social behaviours and for those who break the law it is our job to investigate those crimes with the courts holding the responsible person accountable."
Failure to appear in court
Sgt. Taylor and Sgt. Mike Wicentowich of the Trail RCMP detachment have both expressed concerns over the volume of individuals failing to attend their court dates.
Police are routinely required to arrest individuals after they fail to appear for their court date.
"This has proved quite a burden for the police and may contribute to the perception of a revolving-door justice system," said Taylor.
He adds that in some cases, additional crimes are being committed while the individual is out on bail.
Bail hearings, previously held in the courthouse under the supervision of BC Sheriffs, are now regularly conducted from within the detachment's cell blocks.
Taylor says this has resulted in resource pressures to police offices and administrative staff and removes officers from the road.
"The BC Prosecution Services presents the matters before the court and most people are released back into the general public even though some have missed multiple court date appearances or committed new offences," he added.
As an example, Taylor cites a 2019 case still before the Castlegar courts where the individual repeatedly failed to attend their court dates.
Over the last five years, 12 warrants were issued for the individual's arrest after continually failing to attend court. Meanwhile, they committed additional crimes.
When factoring in the court dates of other matters they've had, about 20 warrants have been issued for this one individual.
Taylor says this person is again at large with a warrant for their arrest, while police continue attempts to locate them and once again bring them before the courts.
2025 priorities
Every year the Castlegar RCMP identifies priorities in the community. These priorities are identified by crime trends and feedback from the community and elected officials. Initiatives are then brought forward for police to partner with community, provincial and federal agencies to reduce crime and victimization.
This year, the priorities in regard to crime and victimization for 2025 are traffic safety, substance abuse, public education and awareness, reduction of property crime, and reduction of mental health calls.
2024 Castlegar RCMP Year-End Statistics:
(2023 statistics listed in parenthesis)
- Homicides/Attempted Homicide 0 (0)
- Assaults 87 (117)
- Sexual Offences 24 (17)
- Robbery 1 (2)
- Auto Theft 9 (7)
- Break and Enters 31 (26)
- Theft from Motor Vehicle 45 (56)
- Total Persons/Violent Criminal Code 233 (237)
- Total Property Criminal Code 542 (658)
- Total Other Criminal Code 172 (179)
- Total Criminal Code 947 (1074)
- Motor Vehicle Collisions 142 (135)
- Motor Vehicle Collisions with Fatal 1 (4)
- Impaired Driving Criminal Code 25 (26)
- Impaired Driving – Motor Vehicle Act Immediate Roadside Prohibitions 116 (46)
- Motor Vehicle Act Violations 509 (416)
- Negative Contact with Youth 6 (8)
- Mental Health Related Calls 102 (96)
- Files Involving Alcohol/Drugs 409 (281)
- Domestic Violence Files 20 (14)
- Check Well-being 136 (143)
- Suspicious Person/Vehicle/Occurrence 129 (113)
- Unspecified Assistance 70 (38)
- Fail to Appear Court 59 (65)
Total Calls for Service 3,711 (3,915)