Booze-drug offences rise sharply in August

Sgt. Ed North told Iqaluit city council this past Tuesday that August was a “busy” month for members of the Iqaluit RCMP detachment.

There had been a “significant” rise in the number of calls dealing with drunkenness from this period last year, North said. This increase has upped demands on police in Iqaluit and caused the local detachment to ask for more officers.

Some 628 complaints were filed with the RCMP in August and nearly 200 people ended up in RCMP cells, for at least one night each. Not all, said North, were there for intoxication.

To date this year, the RCMP has dealt with 50 cases of public intoxication.

More booze is in the city, North said, because bootleggers are managing to bring in more legally-ordered alcohol.

RCMP are trying to clamp down on their practice of repeatedly using Nunavut alcohol permits with different outlets in the South.

Councillors expressed concern over the growing number of booze- and drug-related incidents taxing the RCMP’s resources, but suggested more education on how to drink reasonably is needed.

“Trying to get more RCMP officers isn’t all the answer,” said councillor Annie Gordon.