One window too many?

Vandals continued on along their travels last week, making Gary’s Lock shop the latest casualty of a broken window, a result of some of the unsavory evening activities in downtown Prince Rupert.

And while it’s most likely just a coincidence, this week also saw Prince Rupert City Council begin to take more of an interest in the growing problem of vandalism and downtown rowdyism.

A number of high profile incidents over the last few months have had locals talking quite a bit about a growing problem, while the reaction from city hall seems to have been muted for the most part.

The city took the question to heart at this week’s council meeting during a question and answer session with a local resident Larry Golden.

During the course of the discussion, Mayor Herb Pond announced that the city has approached a number of service organizations to address the issue of vandalism, but ruled out the prospect of a curfew for local teens, a frequently mentioned solution for some in the city.

Interestingly enough, no mention was made of returning the RCMP to a full staff situation; the local detachment has been working with reduced numbers during the last number of lean years for the city.

There was also no discussion at council of creating a Youth squad through the RCMP, which we once had in the city, nor was there any talk of directing the RCMP to perhaps reallocate some of their current resources towards the recurring problems of the downtown core. They are two possibilities that are often thought could help in trying to get a handle on the increasing problems in the city.

The approach of service organizations by the city for assistance is a process that many in the city will be watching with interest, hoping that the plan is not just a way of putting a controversial topic on the back burner until it fades from view.

Judging by the increasing amount of petty crime and vandalism that have plagued the downtown area of late, it’s most likely an issue that will stay in the public eye for the long run. One which will need to be addressed with tangible results from the city.

The Daily news examined the city’s plans in Friday’s paper.

City keen to trash vandalism epidemic
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Pages one and three

Faced with a 50 per cent increase in petty crime, the city is hoping to work with other community organizations to get out in front of the vandalism problem.

"The problem has not escaped us. Just like others in the community, public buildings are not immune," said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.

"We have seen problems at the rec centre and city hall properties.

"It isn't up to the schools or the RCMP or any one group, it is up to all of us to get together and find some solutions."

Pond was responding to a question from Larry Golden, who asked the city what it was doing to deal with the issue.

During the summer Golden, like many other people, noticed an increase in vandalism..
The RCMP informed him that between January and September 2006, 320 acts of vandalism that each caused less than $5,000 in damage were reported. This year, during that same time period, there were 480 incidents.

“That’s 50 per cent increase,” said Golden.

While the city has put in a new camera to keep an eye on its own property, and wile it will be adding a camera to the front entrance of the Performing Arts Centre, it is not helping anyone else in the city, he said.

Golden suggested bicycle licencing and a curfew as two possible solutions.

Pond said the city has initiated a response that will hopefully bring together a number of service organizations to address the issue.

“the reality is in a small community, and I have seen this with break-and-enters, vandalism and other types of crime like that, when you are a small community, your stats really spike easily up and down based on the actions of two or three people,” he said.

“It only takes one small group of two or three people, doing home break ins for example, and your statistics go through the roof and then someone puts handcuffs on them and your statistics fall off again,” said Pond.

While he stressed action is being taken, Pond said curfews are not something the city can consider.

“You can’t discriminate based on age. You can’t say if you are 16 and under you have to be home by 9 p. m. … it’s a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Various municipalities have tried it and … it hasn’t worked,” he said. “But saying a curfew is not the answer does not mean you throw up your hands and say there is nothing that can be done. We are very much looking for solutions and looking to implement them quickly.”