Skip to content

EDITORIAL: There is less - not more - crime in Princeton

Despite hyperbole, numbers show local RCMP are winning
11992501_web1_web1_drugs-1200x800
Princeton RCMP on the scene of a joint drug investigation in June 2017. File photo

In an interview earlier this year, departing RCMP Sergeant Barry Kennedy said this about the Town of Princeton:

“This town doesn’t have any different crime than any other town. Every place has its problem areas and its problem people and its economic struggle…If you are going to leave here and think you are going to leave all that behind it’s not going to happen.”

And of course he was absolutely correct.

In recent years crime statistics have declined in Princeton, overall.

Between April and November RCMP had 1283 calls for service, with nearly half of those originating from rural areas. While the totals are essentially flat to the same period in 2016, there were 35 thefts reported, compared to 40, 77 vehicle collisions, compared to 85, and 17 criminal code charges laid versus 26.

Between April and November of 2015 there were 57 break ins reported, 90 collisions and police laid 39 criminal charges.

Of interest, in the 2015 period less that a quarter of calls for service were from outside of Princeton, which means that local cops are lately spending a lot more time on the road to somewhere else.

Princeton RCMP serve one of the service’s largest geographic territories. Seven members are responsible for everyone from Hedley to Manning Park, and Princeton to Tulameen.

And the numbers demonstrate they are winning.

Still the notion that crime is on the rise and out of control persists.

You see that on social media. Typical comments are: “What is happening to our little town?” and “Princeton never used to be like this.”

Yeah.

Nothing out of the ordinary is happening and Princeton was always like this, actually more so. The biggest difference is that more people know about it.

Facebook is responsible for some of that, and often posts to area issues groups are actually about suspected crime, for example reports of “suspicious” cars full of potentially harmless people just out for a drive and “stolen” items that turn up in a day or two.

The newspaper also publishes an (almost) weekly police round up, and covers and reports on Princeton circuit court. And all of those stories are now also going on line, and get shared to social media. There is more awareness of crime in Princeton, to be sure, but there isn’t any more crime.

Recently residents were shocked to learn of a home invasion where a beloved 91-year-old member of the community was beaten.

Happily police arrested a suspect in connection with that terrible incident last week.

Stories about the attack and the subsequent arrest generated fear, and concern, and the question was repeatedly asked: How could this happen here?

The sad truth is it has nothing to do with Princeton, because things like that can happen anywhere. - AD



Andrea DeMeer

About the Author: Andrea DeMeer

Andrea is the publisher of the Similkameen Spotlight.
Read more