Curfew possible after vandalism, gun thefts
Hamlet ponders reinstating dormant bylaw after rifles taken from cabins, thousands of dollars worth of damage caused by vandals
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
RANKIN INLET
A rash of break-ins and vandalism causing thousands of dollars worth of damage - plus the theft of several guns from cabins - has the hamlet of Rankin Inlet looking at a curfew for young people.
The windows of vehicles belonging to clients of Huka Services were smashed on the night of June 26. - Cody Punter/NNSL photo |
Mayor Robert James told Kivalliq News the recent spate of vandalism was the worst he has seen in the 28 years he has lived in Rankin.
With just enough reps present to make quorum at a recent meeting, council voted unanimously in favour of having the bylaw committee revisit and review the possibility of a curfew.
The vote came after Coun. Harry Towtongie raised concerns over the recent spate of vandalism during a hamlet council meeting June 28, two days after the windows of half a dozen businesses downtown were smashed.
Towtongie said the residents in the community had taken to social media and the radio to speak out against troublemakers who were being allowed to wreak havoc on the hamlet without consequences.
"People are saying that kids are staying out too late and breaking windows everywhere so I need to know, why don't we have a curfew?" he asked.
James told council the hamlet did have a curfew written into its bylaws at one point but that it hasn't been enforced in years.
He supported revisiting the bylaw but pointed out that it had previously been scrapped after human rights concerns were raised.
"At some point somebody brought up information that said a curfew was a human rights issue - that we should not allow a child go to a corrupt home where they might be submitted to abuse and stuff like that," he said.
Several councillors pointed out that other communities in the Kivalliq region, such as the hamlet of Naaujat, have been enforcing curfews with some degree of success in recent years.
James said he would contact the other mayors in the region to gather suggestions on how Rankin might be able to implement measures that would work.
Among the targets for the vandals on June 26 were the auto body shop Huka Service, where half a dozen parked cars belonging to clients had their windows smashed in.
Coun. Evan Morrison, who is also the vice-president of the Rankin Inlet Fitness Society, said the gym which he runs had four windows and one mirror smashed on June 26.
It was the fourth time in the last two years that the facility had been targeted.
"We've been broke into three times prior to this but the damage that they did (this time) cost more money than was ever taken from here before," he said.
"I'm not sure who did this but I hope they get caught."
