SURREY - A City of Surrey report suggests that when considering population growth, crime is down.
The 2013 Crime Reduction Strategy review suggests an overall downward trend in crime in the city from 2006-2012. The report analyzes crime statistics on a per 1,000 resident basis.
Statistics Canada has not yet released 2013 data needed for the city's analysis, which is why the statistics do not include last year.
From 2006 to 2012, total criminal code offences went down 17.3 per cent. During that time, break-and-enters went down 23.8 per cent and violent crime was down 23.6 per cent.
While motor vehicle theft was up 7.2 per cent from 2011 to 2012, the report states it reduced by 43 per cent from 2006 to 2012.
Similarly, while property crime increased by 2.5 per cent from 2011 to 2012, it has gone down overall since 2006 by 20.3 per cent.
The report to council said that as of last May, more than 90 per cent of the targets in the city's Crime Reduction Strategy have been "implemented or are well underway."
Highlights of the report include the city's metal and wire theft program to remove and replace wire. The city has embarked upon a project to replace all the wire prone to theft by the end of 2015.
The report also states through the Electrical Fire Safety Inspection Program there has been an 87 per cent reduction in illegal grow ops, down from 445 in 2007 to 56 in 2013.
Since 2005, the EFSI program has rendered 1,855 locations safe with respect to electrical issue, had the power terminated at 1,034 locations and served 789 electrical repair notices.
As well, the report outlines a high rate of investigations for unsightly properties (1,634), graffiti (302) and dumping complaints (219).
When it comes to policing, the report states 12 new member positions were approved in 2013, bringing the total number of officers to 673. Mayor Dianne Watts noted during Monday's meeting that the report was finalized before the police committee approved 30 new officers for 2014 - 18 more than already planned, due to savings within the RCMP.
With 30 new officers this year, there will be a total of 703. The Crime Reduction Strategy calls for one police officer to every 700 residents or better. With a projected population of roughly 510,000 in 2014, that means one officer for every 728 people.
The city would still need 25 new officers to hit its own targets for this year.
And in April the city announced plans to hire 95 officers over the next five years. That number includes 60 already on the books - 12 a year - for the next five years.
Mayor Dianne Watts said the strategy is a "comprehensive, problem solving approach that seeks to not only remedy the immediate issues, but also the deeply rooted problems associated with crime."
Watts said the strategy engages the community and numerous agencies "with the goal of breaking the cycles of crime that have been embedded for generations."
Coun. Barinder Rasode, who chairs the community safety committee, said the past year has seen strengthened relationships with the city's partners and new initiatives and technology have been implemented "to help us improve safety, assist vulnerable people, prevent domestic abuse, and address the root causes of crime in our community."
Rasode adds, "Through collaboration and engagement we have made significant progress, but there is still more work to accomplish."
The strategy was introduced in 2007, and involves Surrey RCMP, fire services, more than 50 community groups, 100 individuals as well as all three levels of government.
areid@thenownewspaper.com
Review highlights
United Way of the Lower Mainland selected the Guildford West neighbourhood as one of two pilot sites in the region for the My Neighbourhood, My Future (MNMF) initiative. MNMF is a five-year investment designed to make a difference in the lives of children and families, giving children improved early literacy skills, access to more family services and increased social connections.
. City staff have mentored more than 75 youth through the Youth Mentorship Program since 2008.
. The High Risk Location initiative, a partnership between Surrey RCMP, fire and bylaws, was launched a part of the Mayor's Task Force on Crime to create a database and rapid deployment to address locations that pose high safety risks.
. To help build community awareness around the importance of reporting, the Crime Reduction Office developed the "REPORT IT" card that lists numbers to various city services and resources.
. The city adopted a Master Plan for Housing the Homeless to identify and respond to the needs for long-term housing and support services for those who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.