By Charlene Tebbutt

Increase in weapons offences in P.A. not lost on police

Oct 19, 2018 | 9:00 AM

Sawed-off shotguns, knives, machetes, bear spray – all weapons members of the Prince Albert Police Service have seized in recent months.

If you think you’re hearing about more weapons on the streets of Prince Albert, you are, and the increasing numbers are not lost on the acting chief with the Prince Albert Police Service. Jon Bergen and the team at the police service have been tracking the numbers and are well aware that weapons are a problem in Prince Albert.

In many cases, police are seeing more legally-purchased guns hitting the streets that have been modified for an illegal purpose, Bergen told paNOW. Products such as bear spray, which have a specific purpose, are also being used illegally.

To mid-September of this year, police have already been called to 25 incidents involving bear spray, an increase over last year, but a decrease from 2016.

“When you look at weapons and weapon offences alone, or total crimes against persons, we haven’t seen significant changes there,” Bergen said. “I think when we talk about what’s dangerous and what we recognize to be dangerous is definitely the increase in firearms that we’ve seen over the last few years.”

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While statistics around the use of illegal weapons are concerning, Bergen said police are seeing an overall downward trend in the numbers. Still, restricted handguns are less common on city streets than legally-purchased guns that are cut or modified for a dangerous purpose, Bergen said.

“A firearm illegally carried and used within the urban setting, that is dangerous, but we’re not unique to it and we see this trend across the province,” he said. “So, I would say that it’s not unique to Prince Albert [but] we’re challenged with it.”

Bergen said there’s no doubt that some of the weapons-related crimes are connected to gang activity in the city. Living in a dangerous environment has an impact, he said.

“Does that individual alter a firearm because he’s part of the gang, or does he alter it because it’s his lifestyle?” Bergen said. “It could be for defensive reasons, that individual thinks that they need a firearm because of their lifestyle and the environment that they find themselves in.”

Awareness is key

Bergen said awareness is key to keeping officers and the public safe in Prince Albert. He added it’s important for anyone who owns firearms to store them safely and securely.

“If the public was to make sure that their weapons, their lawfully-owned, or possessed firearms, are as safe and secure as they can be, that’s going to prevent the theft, or the opportunity for somebody to come into possession of something that they shouldn’t have,” he said.

Mayor Greg Dionne said weapons are a concern in the city as people arm themselves more and more. He said the city and police will continue to fight against the spread of illegal weapons in Prince Albert.

“That’s why we encourage people to lock up and make sure your guns are safely stored,” Dionne added. “But, I’ve got to give our ICE Unit credit, they know that’s a priority to us and as you can tell, every week, we’re cracking down on it as much as we can.”

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt