Kelowna RCMP’s 2023 year in-review reports an approximately 70 per cent increase in files related to the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The report, which will be presented to council on Mar. 11, also shows that sexual offences climbed to 230 in 2023 compared to 181 in 2022, an increase of 27 per cent. The number of child sexual abuse material files comparing 2023 to 2022 were not available in the report.
Overdose calls were up 62 per cent last year with 177 files compared to 109 files in 2022. There were 970 fraud-related files in 2023 compared with 686 in 2022, an increase of 41 per cent.
Kelowna RCMP generated nearly 57,000 files overall last year.
“Kelowna detachment experiences relatively higher calls for service, Criminal Code of Canada offences, and officer caseloads compared to similar-size communities across the province,” Superintendent Kara Triance stated in the report.
There were 20 per cent fewer files generated in the downtown area, however, there were 31 per cent more files generated in the Rutland area, compared to 2022.
“Caution is urged in the interpretation of this data as it does not reflect a direct and commensurate decrease/increase in actual crime,” Triance added.
She said the changes can be attributed to several factors including the shifting of police resources from downtown to Rutland.
There were significant drops in property offences including auto theft (-39 per cent), business break and enters (-44 per cent), and bike theft (-40 per cent).
Triance noted it is difficult to pinpoint the drivers of those positive changes.
“However, research indicates that repeat offenders, a small facet of our community, commit a disproportionate number of crimes and Kelowna RCMP is, increasingly and relentlessly, focused on repeat offenders.”
The entire report is available on the City of Kelowna website.
READ MORE: Bail decision deferred for convicted child sex offender living in Kelowna
READ MORE: Search continues for driver that left Lake Country senior in serious condition