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Social disorder among reasons for increase in RCMP calls for service in Rutland

RCMP began shifting resources to the community earlier this year
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Members of Kelowna council listen as RCMP Superintendent Kara Triance delivers a report on the city’s crime statistics for the period covering Jan. to Aug. 2023. (Gary Barnes / Capital News)

Causing a disturbance, trespassing, wellness checks and social disorder are a few of the reasons calls for RCMP service are up significantly in Rutland according to Kelowna’s top officer.

Superintendent Kara Triance told city council at its Monday (Nov. 6) meeting that the detachment began shifting resources to the community earlier this year when the uptick was identified.

“A common theme related to increases in homelessness, associated to social disorder, open drug use, mental health, and occupation of parks,” she added.

Mayor Tom Dyas asked if the relocation of the provincial social services office to Rutland may have impacted calls for service.

The office was moved to the corner of Highway 33 and Dougall Road in the summer.

READ MORE: Rutland residents voice concerns at BC United town hall

Triance responded that a new data section to review Rutland statistics specifically was only added last year.

“We were grouping into a much larger categorization prior to 2022,” she said. “So our data isn’t as refined as I would like it to be over a five-year period.”

Triance added she is seeing calls for service related to social disorder, trespassing and disturbances, and those aligned with ministries dealing with public health, addictions and homelessness.

“I wish I could stand before you and say cause and effect in the correlation in the data but I’m not at that point where I’m prepared to conclusively give you an option on that matter.”

Triance’s report covers the period from Jan. to Aug. this year.

READ MORE: RCMP calls for service drop in downtown Kelowna but jump in Rutland



Gary Barnes

About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
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