A10- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 29, 2000 Crime rate here drops TERRACE’s crime rate is at its lowest levels in 10 years, according ta newly released provincial stalis- tics detailing crime through the 1990s. Crime rates in the northwest 3007) The crime rate within city limits ended the de- cade at 153 criminal of- fences per thousand popu- 200°: lation in 1999. That's still well above the provincial average of 116 offences per thousand, +00 But it’s marked a down- ward trend in Terrace from 204 in 1990 and a peak of 214 in 1993, 0- The lowest crime rate of the decade here was Offences /1,000 pop. Wi rrince Rupert 2d Kitimat Terrace ea Nass Valley | Stewart i Deasa Lake =) New Hazelton 3h Smithers EPILEPSY » EPILEPSY.» EPILEPSY Epilepsy ts a disorder, @) not a a disease, BRITISH COLUMBIA 1-883-223-3366 DE PA. Okimi ‘General Dentistry, Orthodontics, TM) New patients welcome, ; 200-4619 PorkAve Office Hours Terrace, B.C. V8G 15 , Mon- Thurs 8:00 a.m. «4:30 p.m, (250) 635- 7oll 8 EPILEPSY SOCIETY = ForMore Info 147 in 1998. The number of criminal 4999, code offences recorded Law enforcement offi- here in 1999 was 2,114. cials have always said That was down from 2,344 places such as Terrace in 1990 and was the lowest may experience higher year apart from 1998. crime rates than other ci- Around the region, the ties or towns, town with the lowest crime That’s because Terrace rate in 1999 was Kitimat is the geographical centre at 69 offences per thou- of the northwest so it sand population. serves as the location for a The highest area for number of services for crime was the Nass Valley people from around the re- at 205 offences. Prince gion. Rupert recorded 174 in And because crime RCMP reject city’s theory that it overpays RCMP OFFICIALS in Vancouver are so far rejecting the city’s theory that Terrace has long overpaid for support staff at the detachment here. Council had approved a plan te bill the RCMP for what it believes is a shortfall approaching close to $200,000 a year. They did that after it was noticed the city was paying 100 per cent of support staff costs, while other municipa- lities pay only a share of the cost. Treasurer Keith Norman said RCMP officials refute the idea. “They’re suggesting they don’t have anything owing,” Norman reported. “‘We’re not expecting to see - any money in this year’s budget.” RCMP officials pointed Norman to a clause in its contract with the municipality that states the city “shall provide support staff at no cost to Canada.” However, Norman said, he's noticed another clause that indicates where the city provides support staff, Ca-- nada will pay its share of the salaries. While the city pays the entire costs of nine support staff, RCMP headquarters says it pays for another three public servants. That split roughly approximates the 80-20 split of crime that happens in Terrace versus incidents outside city limits, RCMP say. Norman said he doesn’t understand the statistics the RCMP headquarters is using to make its case. Officials from headquarters in Vancouver will be here to make their case with city council directly on Jan. 19, he added. “We're poing to continue to pursue it,” Norman said. City officials had hoped a $200,000 infusion back into the city’s budget would help ease a cash crunch at city hall. A number of increased costs — including a nearly $100,000 increase in natural gas costs and a $310,000 increase in the cost of policing to pay for officer wage increases — have forced council to consider service cuts or tax increases. Council is also pressing the RCMP to increase the number of officers here paid for by the province and de- crease the number for which the city has to pay. CORSTAVARE | dl| STOPPERS Terrace Crime Stoppers are asking for your assistance in solving a crime committed at the Sacred Heart Church, located at 4830 Straume Ave., Terrace, BC. At approximately 6:00 pm, November 11", 5 youths were seen at the church damaging property. The acts of senseless vandalism committed by the culprits included broken windows into the office area, and parts of the fence kicked out, resulting in substantial damage, without reason. If you have any information about this or any other similar incidents, or if you know the identity of the person or persons responsible for this, (or any other}, crime, Crime Stoppers would like to hear from you. Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest and charges being lald agalnst an individual In this ar other unsolved crime. If you have any Information call Crime Stoppers at 635-TIPS that's 635-0477. Callers will not be required to raveal thelr identily nor testify in court. Grima Stoppers does not subscribe to call display. Call 635 ™ 9 Od every saturday! 7-eleven is a proud supporter of Crimestoppers rates are calculated ac- cording to where a crimi- nal activity may take place, and not an offen- der’s hometown, the real- ity of having more people visit here can influence the statistics. The same reasoning has been used for other geo- graphical centres in B.C. Williams Lake is one such example of this. Other findings: @ While violent crime in Terrace rose somewhat in the 1990s, it tended to be a result of common as- saults. Sexual assaults de- pe Ry anne ln i _¢lined slightly, WM Property crime de- clined in Terrace in the 1990s, from 1,157 inci- ‘dents in 1990 to 860 in , 1999. The peak year was _ 1993 at more than 1,300. @ Spousal assaults in Terrace ended the decade at a high of 77, up from the decade low of 59 in 1998. Men weren't always offenders - each year saw between three and 10 inci- dents of female offenders. The spousal assault rate is considerably higher in Prince Rupert, at around 120 offences per year. ) j book a private Luncheon. SEASON'S GREETINGS, A Blackstone Gift Certificate makes a Great Gift. Take a break from the hectic holiday pace and Dacion Restaurant treat yourself to One Moe hoe cite Music Brunch 10% Discount Off undays and Boxing Day Ask about our reduced ; Christmas Men aA rate Holiday Menu for to parties over : fete} bn, On & WEeANIZE. weeknight bookings or Reservations: 635-6667 : 4035 Motz Road 635-6667 is Mae Mae “i it a, are, Soe OR, “why hE BE eS, “Ha % 33 . i To Skeena Mall | ‘December 2 at 10:00 a.m. | By helicopter, courtesy of White River Helicopters. _ Bring your kids down to the Zellers parking lot _ to see Santa arrive and then ae get their picture taken at Santa’shouse.