The Sunshine Coast RCMP released their monthly crime statistics for the months of February and March on April 30 at the Sunshine Coast Regional District's policing committee meeting.
Generally speaking, the number of calls for service in March remained relatively stable at 724, this compared to 672 in 2011 and 734 in 2010.
The February numbers have also been stable, but came with one striking difference: whereas callouts in March have averaged 710 over the past years, the February numbers have averaged 589.
It's a phenomenon that seems to be driven primarily by the District of Sechelt.
"We've really started to focus on responding to our stats. In fact we're reporting bi-monthly to the mainland district on our statistics," said Sgt. Mike McCarthy. "If there's a spike in one area of crime, they want to know what we're doing about it."
What really stood out in the statistics were the number of call outs to the District during the month of March.
There were exactly 100 more documented call outs in the District during that month than in February - a trend that is not followed by the other areas of the Coast.
Three years worth of statistics showed that this rise in callouts to Sechelt during the month of March is not a new trend.
In 2010, callouts in March rose by 40 per cent over the previous month. In 2011, it was 35 per cent and this year's report showed an increase of 47 per cent in the District.
"I wonder if spring break has anything to do with it," mused Roberts Creek director Donna Shugar.
"It would have something to do with it, certainly," replied McCarthy.
RCMP contract
Correspondence was received from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) that discussed the possible financial implications of a new RCMP provincial contract extending to March 31, 2032.
The cost sharing formula remains the same at 70 per cent paid for municipal populations over 5,000 and 90 per cent for those exceeding 15,000.
"B.C. municipalities through the province requested a greater contribution from the federal government toward the costs of delivering local police services," the UBCM letter stated. "The federal government responded negatively to this request."
Speed Watch
A report was received from Jon Hird, co-ordinator of the Speed Watch program, on the volunteer group's recent efforts.
Residents may have noticed the Speed Watch crew setting up their radar to remind drivers on the Coast's busy streets of how fast they are going relative to the limit.
"The volunteers at Speed Watch know that their presence makes a difference to traffic speed, at least when visibly deployed with radar," said Hird, who said cars deliberately slowing down towards their setup are evidence that "we are taken seriously and that we are effective."
One well-documented problem on the Coast noticed by Speed Watch and other concerned citizens is the tendency for motorists to speed through school zones.
For safety reasons, school zone speed limits on the Coast are set at 30 km/h. Tickets for a violation can start at $196 with three penalty points.
Const. Todd Bozak of the RCMP's Sunshine Coast Traffic Services had an interesting take on the concern.
"Most of the people that we catch at school zones are parents that have kids in that school and teachers," said Bozak.
