Andre Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 10/05) - Police are putting a dent in Yellowknife's record high crime rate and winning cheers from downtown businesses.

It's all part of a "make-it-better" approach by the RCMP that means less paperwork and more time on the street for officers.

The city's crime rate is among the highest in the country, according to figures from the territorial government. In 2003, police received more than 5,500 complaints, an increase of nearly 15 percent from the year before. Although per-capita complaints in Yellowknife during 2003 were lower than Hay River and Inuvik, they were six times higher than Toronto and double that of Saskatoon - which has the highest crime rate among Canadian cities with more than 100,000 people. The crime rate for the entire Northwest Territories is nearly five times the national average. Downtown Yellowknife has the highest crime rate of any part of the city. There were about 10 break and enters into business each month from January through April and nearly 50 complaints of assault during the same time period. Nearly 40 per cent of the complaints that come in are related to public intoxication and the majority originate from downtown. Police field about 350 calls per month to deal with drunks, who are usually lodged in police cells and released when sober.

Downtown merchants have already seen a turnaround, with complaints of mischief and vandalism on the decrease.

"The RCMP should be given credit for the improved situation," said Jennifer Marchant, manager of the Centre Square Mall. Nearly 2,000 people pass through the downtown shopping centre every day.

The number of people banned from the mall for offences like public intoxication or theft has dropped 75 per cent since last year, she said.

In the first of a City Scope series focusing on downtown, Yellowknifer examines police efforts.

Every month, police receive approximately 350 calls about public intoxication, the majority from downtown. The problem has helped give the city core a bad reputation and kept RCMP busy.

Only on the job five months, Insp. Roch Fortin has retooled the Yellowknife detachment in an effort to make downtown "a place where you can feel safe to bring your family - any time of day."

Mall manager Marchant says stepped-up foot patrols have discouraged rowdy behaviour in and around the mall.

Not all downtown merchants, however, are convinced the policing changes are providing results.

Patrick Yu, manager of the Gold Range Bistro, said he waited nearly 30 minutes for police to respond to a call last month.

"I do not think the service is that great," Yu said. "I think there needs to be more co-ordination."

Former intelligence specialist

Fortin, a gregarious former intelligence specialist, said hiring three new administrative staff helped get officers out from behind their desks and onto the streets.

"Efficiency is important," Fortin said. "Especially in a detachment like this, which is one of the busiest in the country."

He also changed shift schedules and placed two extra officers and two auxiliary constables on duty Friday and Saturday nights to help control bar traffic and drunken rabble-rousing.

He is placing extra emphasis on making police more visible in the downtown core, chiefly through foot patrols.

A longtime Yellowknife resident and city councillor says it's about time RCMP turned their attention to downtown. "Right now, the situation is pathetic," said Alan Woytuik, referring to the crime rate. "But I am optimistic about several new police initiatives."

Those changes, along with several others, have provided immediate dividends in the battle against drugs and alcohol, Fortin said. Police have executed three drug-related search warrants this spring, compared with two all of last year.

"Before, officers were forced to be more reactive," Fortin said. "We are in a better position this year to address these issues."

Welcome initiative

To address concerns like those, the RCMP and the City of Yellowknife have established the Police Advisory Committee. The organization brings together business people, students, First Nations and school officials with the goal of outlining priorities for police.

"This will give the community a voice," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem.

Ultimately though, the solution is a community effort to address the root causes of crime, Fortin said.

Police estimate that nearly 90 per cent of arrests are related to drug and alcohol abuse - statistics that Fortin said make Yellowknife unique.

"I could throw 150 (police) in the downtown core and it would just move elsewhere," he said. "These things are community issues, not only policing ones."

Woytuik agrees that police, social welfare groups and municipal and territorial governments need to combine their efforts.

"I would like to see people get the help they need ... and be less dependent on alcohol and drugs," he said.