by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 12/97) - Crime in Yellowknife decreased slightly in 1996, according to a RCMP figures.

Staff Sgt. Dave Grundy said the police case load dropped by 100 files last year.

Police investigated 8,000 cases last year, half of which involved traffic and liquor-related.

The reduction in files however, doesn't mean that police were less busy, he said.

"We have to temper that information because we've changed the way we gather information," Grundy said. "The calls for service are still quite high, but only significant ones are recorded."

In 1996, RCMP stopped keeping files on incidents that aren't particularly significant. For example, incidents that result in no charges often aren't recorded.

"It's part an effort to try and keep police out on the road instead of doing paper work," he said.

The ratio of crimes solved also went up by nine per cent last year.

"Overall, policing is very good, but that's not to say that we wouldn't like it to get better," Grundy said.

Spousal assaults, house break-ins and bicycle thefts are amongst the most common crimes in the city.

The number of reported assaults jumped from 482 in 1995 to 518 in 1996.

Drug offenses also increased from 129 in 1995 to 173 in 1996.

"We're also catching more impaired drivers because we're stopping more cars," said Grundy.

In order to reduce crime further in Yellowknife, he would like to see more co-operation between the RCMP and the city.

"We're looking at forming a committee so that people can voice their concerns," he said. "I would like to see a more proactive approach and a little less reactive policing."