Fort Simpson (Nov 05/04) - The police are putting more people behind bars these days, and RCMP Cpl. Al Shepherd told village council that it may be due to the easing of liquor rationing restrictions.

Seventy-six people --the highest number in Fort Simpson in two years -- were jailed for crimes or for being drunk in public in September, the first month that daily alcohol purchase limits almost doubled in the community. One year ago, only 47 people were imprisoned in September.

The number of alcohol and drug related offences for this September was 109, according to the RCMP's statistics. That compares to 91 a year ago.

The figures from October have not yet been finalized, other than a prisoner count of 62, but they appear to be headed in the same direction, according to Shepherd.

At Monday's village council meeting, Coun. Tom Wilson reviewed the stats and said, "I am disturbed to see this large number of (jailed) people."

Keyna Norwegian, chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation, told the Drum that it's time to target those who are supplying booze to minors.

"It's the youth that are being affected right now," she said.

Sales volumes from the Fort Simpson liquor store couldn't be obtained Tuesday, but liquor store manager Duncan Canvin said he's noticed a "small" increase in demand since September. Individuals have been purchasing more, but sales to licenced establishments have fallen, Canvin noted.

"Actually projections for the months of September and October were certainly a lot less than what anybody kind of figured," Canvin said.

In light of rising file counts, the issue of staffing again arose at Monday's village council meeting. One of seven RCMP positions at the Fort Simpson detachment has not yet been formally eliminated, as the NWT Commissioner has yet to sign the paperwork, according to Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche, who was present at the meeting.

He said Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew initially indicated little concern about the position being transferred when he met with her two weeks ago, but she later said she would talk to her colleagues in Ottawa.

Village Coun. Owen Rowe scorned Justice Minister Charles Dent's responses to Menicoche's Legislative Assembly questions over policing.

"I can't and won't accept the comments from the justice minister," Rowe said Monday. "It think it was right out to lunch."

In addition to the possible staff cut, Sgt. Brian Winters is retiring in December and his replacement isn't expected until April, Shepherd noted. Const. Wes Heron has been transferred to Yellowknife and his replacement hasn't yet arrived.

A number of substantial drug busts have occurred on the NWT's highways over recent weeks and Rowe maintained that it's just a matter of time until the narcotics reach Fort Simpson.

Shepherd said the police have not yet detected any crystal meth in the community, are aware of crack cocaine for "personal use" and have been informed that marijuana is "pretty much standard use in the town."