Crime statistics were consistent from other years in Lantzville, but the community remains relatively “peaceful and tranquil,” say RCMP.
Nanaimo RCMP Insp. Lisa Fletcher, acting detachment commander, made the comments during her presentation on policing priorities and issues at a District of Lantzville council meeting Jan. 6.
Mischief calls, including property damage, represented the highest percentage of police files, followed by theft and traffic incidents. There were an average of 90 calls per month in the District of Lantzville, a number which Fletcher said has remained consistent year over year. As a comparison, Nanaimo RCMP noted in a press release late last year that officers respond to 150-200 calls per day.
As far as trends, Fletcher said mental health-related calls have seen a “very significant” increase.
“Mental Health Act files, wellness, checking on well-being, a lot of that is associated to a combination of mental health along with addiction issues,” she said.
In reply to Fletcher’s mention of the low number of police responses in Lantzville, Mayor Mark Swain commented that community Block Watch groups seem to be helping, as more people are vigilant about what’s going on in their neighbourhoods. Fletcher said that’s one difference between being a resident and a citizen.
“We can all be residents where we’re not engaged and not involved and not committed, but we become citizens when we take an interest in people beyond ourselves and we contribute and make it better,” she said. “I think community crime watch programs and … those types of initiatives, it’s a focus on the collective good and it only gets better when we’re engaged.”
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