By Nigel Maxwell

Rural crime addressed during community meeting

Dec 3, 2016 | 1:24 PM

Frustration and anger spilled over at a meeting in Prince Albert Saturday morning.

Upwards of 100 people packed the small confines of the meeting room at the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club for a community meeting on rural crime issues.

Representatives from the RCMP, city police and provincial government gave presentations and also took questions from the attendees during an open mic session which lasted over 40 minutes.

The media was asked not to take pictures or record the names of those who asked questions.

Topics ranged from what people can and cannot do to protect themselves and their property, to asking what people should do while waiting for RCMP to arrive after the initial 911 call is made.

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Prince Albert RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Lutzko advised people to gather information, not to challenge the suspect and, if needed, barricade themselves inside their homes.

He said police are working with a crime analyst to address hot spots in the rural areas.

“We’re doing what we can, all I ask is people work together with us, call the police, don’t interact with these people and please don’t take matters into your own hands,” he said.

Other questions raised had to do with what was being done about the repeat offenders, who get a “slap on the wrist and don’t change.”

A man from the Shellbrook area said he saw known offenders driving up and down his road everyday but nothing was being done about it.

Prince Albert Police Chief Troy Cooper acknowledged there is frustration with the court system, “not getting the longer term sentences” for offenders.

Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne stood up and defended the police.

“If we want to prevent crime we have to get rid of one word and that word is conditional.  You just have to go to provincial court and listen to the judge talk.  It doesn’t matter whether you do one break in or 50, you’re getting the same sentence,” he said.

The meeting Saturday was organized by Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback.

The idea for the meeting was created a week ago when two people approached him with their concerns on rural policing. Hoback offered to hold a community meeting. 

“This was just spread by word of mouth amongst people and it just shows you how upset they are,” he said.

Hoback said he sympathized with the people who had been targeted several times, but he added he also heard some things during the meeting which concerned him.

“I’m worried about somebody’s neighbour, their kid coming into somebody’s yard at two o’clock in the morning, and having harm done to them because of fear,” Hoback said.

Saskatchewan Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson was among the invited speakers.  She said the government had in the last week created a provincial task force on rural crime.

The committee made up of MLAs from across the province will discuss ways to reduce crime and report their recommendations to the justice minister sometime in the new year.

The committee will travel across the province as well to get feedback from the public.  There is a scheduled meeting in Prince Albert on Jan. 22.

The announcement was met with hesitation by some people in the crowd.

Wilson acknowledged those “shaking their heads” and assured them the government would take the issue very seriously.

According to a recent report by the RCMP, there has been a 25 per cent increase in property crimes and vehicle thefts over the past year, for the period between January and October.

Prince Albert Police have seen a 16 per cent increase from last year for property related offences, and an 18 per cent increase in vehicle thefts.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell