Claresholm crime trending downwards

By Mickey Dumont, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An RCMP report covering January to December 2020-’24 shows a 14 per cent increase in criminal activity in Claresholm, but just eight per cent in comparison to 2023.

The report shows 484 total criminal code offences in 2020; 476 in 2021, 510 in 2022, 513 in 2023 and 553 in 2024 for the 14 percent increase in the reporting period.

Sgt. Perry Pelletier of the Claresholm detachment included the long-term statistics in his third quarter report March 12 to MD of Willow Creek council.

Pelletier made his presentation to council with his Fort Macleod colleague Sgt. Christian Lafleur and the new Nanton detachment boss, Sgt. David Davis.

The Claresholm report shows drug offences are down 68 per cent in the five-year reporting period.

The crime statistic report lists six statistics for 2023; five for possession and one other while in 2024 drug manufacturing — the only incident in the reporting period — three for possession, two for trafficking and three listed as other.

The numbers were consistently higher — many for trafficking — between 2020-’23 with 28, 23 and 14 respectively.

The report shows there has not been an offence related to death since 2021 and no robberies is cited.

Increases to crimes against persons was up eight per cent in 2024 with 94 files making their way into the statistics.

Sexual assaults are up 167 per cent in 2024 from 2023.

In 2020 there were three included cases of sexual assault; seven in 2021, four in 2022, three in 2023 and eight in 2024. Other sexual offence statistics were down 40 per cent from 2023. 

There were no kidnappings or incidents of extortion in the report.

Criminal harassment is down 21 per cent from 2023 while uttering threats is up 31 per cent over 2023 with 21 incidents in the report.

In 2023 there were 87 crimes against persons in the statistics, down from 106 in 2020, 102 in 2021 and 99 in 2022.

Property crime continues to be a problem showing a five per cent increase over 2023 and a 27 per cent increase in the reporting period.

There were 38 break and enters in 2024, 17 per cent fewer than the 46 in the 2023 statistics, but still down from 2022 with 57.

There was a 13 per cent increase in vehicle thefts in 24 with 18 compared to 16 in 2023.

The report shows four thefts over $5,000 and 75 under $5,000 both down in the reporting period and year-over-year.

Possession of stolen goods is down 26 per cent over 2023, but the criminal activity shows a 183 per cent increase since 2020.

Fraud is up 35 per cent from last year and 71 percent for the reporting period. The statistics show 77 in 2024, 20 more than in 2023 at 57.

Arson, at two incidents shows no year-to-year change.

Mischief, damage to property or other, is also on the uptick.

Damage to property is 33 per cent higher than in 2023 at 60 and 33 per cent higher than the reporting period.

Other mischief at 76 is 36 per cent higher than 2023 at 56, but 145 per cent in the five-year report.

Other criminal code statistics include a 29 per cent reduction regarding offensive weapons at five, but that is a 25 per cent increase over 2023 that had four.

Total provincial statistics which include offences under the liquor, cannabis and mental health acts all increased.

The Liquor Act statistics jumped 200 per cent over 2023 with nine versus three and the Cannabis Act saw a 100 per cent increase over 2023 with two.

The Mental Health Act shows a 39 per cent increase over 2023 and a 22 per cent increase in the reporting period with 79.

2024 saw a 300 per cent increase in motor vehicle fatalities at four over 2023 and a 33 per cent reduction in vehicle collision injuries.

There was also a 24 per cent reduction in property damage resulting from reportable motor vehicle collisions at 87 and 110 per cent increase in reportable property damage resulting from motor vehicle collisions.

Claresholm RCMP served six roadside suspensions for alcohol in both 2023 and 2024, but none for drugs.

Spousal abuse was down 55 per cent from 2023 numbers. The report shows 25 in 2024; 56 in 2023, 63 in 2022, 29 in 2021 and 19 in 2020.