Alcohol, drugs continue to feed crime in Iqaluit: RCMP

As always, alcohol and drugs were the major factor contributing to crime in Iqaluit last year, which was a busy one for the Iqaluit RCMP detachment. (FILE PHOTO)

Alcohol and drugs continue to be the major contributing factor for crime in Iqaluit and calls for police services increased in 2011, Staff Sgt. Roger Tournier said in his year-end report to Iqaluit city council Feb. 14.

The RCMP in Iqaluit received slightly more calls in 2011 than in 2010, a trend seen over the past several years, Tournier said.

His report noted that calls to the detachment were up slightly during 2011, but part of this increase is attributed to more requests for criminal records checks, which are counted as calls for service, he said.

The Iqaluit detachment also undertook 1,767 criminal record checks in 2011 compared with 1,427 in 2010.

And police responded to 8,419 calls in 2011, an increase of almost 500 calls over 2010, Tournier said.

The year 2011 was also significant for the number of officers who left Iqaluit.

But a new requirement that RCMP members commit to three-year terms in Iqaluit, instead of two-years, will help reduce staff turnover, he said, although Iqaluit still remains a sought-after destination for RCMP members, with a waiting list of people who want to work at the Iqaluit detachment.

The total number of prisoners held by police dropped to 2,909 in 2011 from 3,355 in 2010.

And the RCMP continues to see success with in community programs such as DARE, which reached 77 Grade 5 students in 2011, Tournier told the councillors.