Inuvik RCMP report a busy year
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Jan 19/01) - The Inuvik RCMP were busy during the year 2000, Cpl. Tim Beland told town council last week.
In his presentation Beland explained the detachment handled about 1,300 complaints and housed 1,388 prisoners.
"We are up approximately 200 prisoners and we were up approximately 120 files over the last year," Beland said.
He said the influx of people to the community may partly explain the increase, but noted there wasn't a marked increase in any one area.
The number of break and enters were down while mischief complaints went up.
Beland noted that probably more than half of the prisoners were not there regarding criminal offences.
"Our big business is, unfortunately, intoxicated people in public," Beland said.
He noted intoxicated people are often housed in cells for their own protection, especially at this time of year, and that sometimes people will come to the detachment and ask to be let in for a spell.
In more recent activity, Beland said the Christmas and New Year's holiday period was quiet.
"New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were extremely quiet. We had probably five complaints in all," Beland said.
"The drinking establishments that were open would have to be commended for their efforts."
Late last year council had expressed concerns about people in the community buying tobacco while under age. Beland explained that detachment members are establishing a plan to cope with the problem. Part of this will be a program within Samuel Hearne Secondary school.
