Image from OPP on Twitter
Kincardine council has been presented with statistics from South Bruce OPP on their activities in the area in 2021.
The presentation was made during a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 21 by South Bruce OPP Detachment Commander Krista Miller.
For Kincardine, in total there were over 2,100 calls for service, and over 2,900 traffic stops conducted.
The presentation details the top 10 calls for service in 2021.
Motor vehicle collisions received the most calls, with 218. There were 157 for public assistance, 135 for false alarms or property related, 125 for suspicious persons, 100 for mental health, 90 for domestic disturbances, 82 for family disputes, 80 for theft under $5,000, 78 for suspicious vehicles, and 69 for noise complaints.
The report shows between January to December in 2021:
-79 violent crimes were reported, up 6.8 per cent from 2020
-254 property crimes were reported, down -1.6 per cent from 2020
-12 drug crimes were reported, up 33.3 per cent from 2020
-218 motor vehicle collisions, up 17 per cent from 2020
The OPP also saw 52 calls for service for marine related instances. According to the presentation, there was a 70 per cent compliance rate, which is down from the usual 92 to 95 per cent for the second year in a row. In a total of 277 patrol hours, OPP had also checked 128 vessels, issuing 28 warnings and three charges.
The presentation says for the second year of the Community Safety and Policing grant for Human Trafficking and Sexual Violence, it was focused on youth.
The Anti-human Trafficking Committee purchased a curriculum for the Bluewater District School Board and the Grey Bruce Catholic District School Board, creating a training session.
Two training videos were created by the committee in 2021, with one focused on awareness and the other is a training video for officers.
The committee’s aim for 2022 is education and awareness for service providers and continued training for people and officers.
The presentation says through the South Bruce OPP’s partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association to create the Mobile Mental Health and Addictions Response Team, it completed its first full year.
The clinicians were provided an office at the Walkerton detachment and respond to mental health and addiction related calls for service along with officers.
From May 2021, South Bruce officers attended over 60 calls for service with response team members to successfully provide resources and support to those who are struggling with mental health and addiction issues.
The OPP has also been participating as a partner in the refresh of the Situation Table – Acute Risk (STAR) program, which is facilitated by the Community Safety and Well Being Committee.
STAR plays a primary role in connecting people and families, who are at acute elevated risk, with services and support.
The Situation Table is a collaboration of the Municipalities of Bruce and Grey, police services and social services, and community-based organizations which identify and support people at a higher risk of harm, committing an offence, or coming in contact with police or other crisis-driven services.
Since its creation in 2016, STAR has facilitated 17 Situation Tables for people who are identified as an acute risk. With its refresh in 2021, eight situations have been successfully facilitated, and with each success, the report says they anticipate more referrals.
The presentation says the South Bruce OPP also took part in the Cops for Cancer fundraiser in October, 2021. Participants cycled over 40 kilometres from their Walkerton office to the Kincardine office and raised over $3,000.