Checking up on who is out on the streets at night is helping police officers deal with crime, the Terrace RCMP detachment’s commanding officer told council here Feb. 10.
“The street checks are predominantly done in the overnight hours. Individuals are seen out and about walking around the streets of Terrace, an officer will approach them, ask them what they are up to and find out who they are,” said Inspector Dana Hart in presenting the detachment’s report for the last quarter of 2014.
It indicated 33 street checks were done and that officers conducted 107 foot patrols in the downtown core.
“It’s a record so that we have a very good way of determining who are some of our criminal element out especially with property crime, break and enters,” Hart added.
Policing in the downtown core has been given an emphasis by restoring the detachment’s crime reduction unit.
It had been blended in with the detachment’s regular shifts but was restored last year and concentrates on prolific and persistent offenders.
Constable Angela Rabut, the detachment’s media relations officer, in providing more information on the detachment’s priorities, said evidence indicates approximately 80 per cent of offences are committed by 20 per cent of the offenders.
That follows the Pareto principle, named after an Italian economist, which states that 80 per cent of something come from 20 per cent of its causes.
The crime reduction unit “also works with other agencies in Terrace in a collaborative approach to reduce crime,” said Rabut.
Some of those agencies are probation services, the Terrace and District Community Services Society, the Ksan House Society and mental health, said Rabut.
She did add that other detachment members also conduct foot patrols and do street checks to connect with the community.
“We are only as effective as the information that is received from the public. Policing is a community effort,” said Rabut.