Al2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 5, 1999, Local crime statistics decline but so has police presence TERRACE’S CRIME rate in the first three months of the year is 20 per cent lower than last year, says the RCMP’s latest report to city council, But that may not. be be- cause crime isn’t happening, said Set. Darcy Gollan at tie Jocal detachment “With limited manpower we don’t have the lime to generate work. for. detec-. tion,”’ Gollan said. The report compares the annual number of ‘assaults, property offences, impaired driving, and non-criminal offences such as accidents in Terrace city limits to the eud of March. “We're probably not detecting as many,’’ said Gollan, “'There’s a lack presence.’” In total, criminal offences fell from 512 to 412 of- fences from 1998 to 1999, with properly offences drop- ping most from 232 of- fences 10 176 this year. The were 25 fewer break and enters in 1999, four more vehicle thefts and 10 fewer thefts from vehicles this year, Gollan said break and en- Recall unlikely TT’S UNLIKELY any recall campaign will be mounted in the spring here, says a potential local organizer. Northwest Coalition of Dissatisfied Citizens spokesman Steve Cook says there is no organization in place or contemplated in eSkeena:toconduct another jrecalf” — campaign ‘NDP MLA Helmut Gies- brecht. He and others had consid- ered being part of a province-wide Total Recall movement that would launch ecall campaigns against all NDP MLAs in hopes of unseating enough to force a general election. The plan had been to launch such a campaign in carly May. But Cook says there’s 10 way such an organization wili come together in Skeena in the next couple of weeks, . He says most opponents of the NDP here would prefer to fight an election than carry out another recall campaign. “‘There’s no question that tecall could be a success, the question is whether you can put together all the time, talent and money necessary ta do it,’ he said. He said there’s a fear that a recall campaign could sap ‘ the cnergy and money that should be stockpiled for the next election campaign. ‘I’s a question of whether you should just build your forces and fight an election or try to force an election.”’ Most right-wingers would be content to wait if an elec- tion is relatively soon, he said, but it’s a different mat- ter if the NDP is determined to hang on for another two years. If recall doesn’t start soon, the next reasonable window of opportunity would be the fall, he added. “Obviously the longer we delay the less it becomes practical,’’ he said. ‘But of course the longer we give the NDP, the more damage they can do.” 4 HEALING CENTRE | s A ‘NIRVANA METAPHYSIC of street~ “against ters in the city taper off nat- urally, Most offenders, be said, are charged with mulli- ple offences and crime rates fall dramatically once of- fenders are caught. He also said Terrace’s new alternative justice pro-” . gram, which pairs non- violent offenders with their victims might also be changing behaviour patterns of some young offenders. But violent offences such as assaults, including sexual and spousal, dropped from 90 in the first three months of 1998 to 73 in the same time period this year. “That could be people not reporting them,”’ he said. Willful damage, property damage and disturbing the peace also dropped from 181 in 1998 to 159 offences in 1999, Eight people —- one less than this time last year — have been arrested for im- paired driving so far. The number of intoxicated people arrested was also axed from 130 to 76 in the first three months of each year. ‘We're probably not MIDUCES aRLAKAGE voneat Pia detecting as many,” said Gollan. ‘‘There’s a lack of sirect presence,’ However, the number of drug-related offenders ar- rested rose slightly from 24 to 27 calls within Terrace’s city limits, There were also 16 fewer false alarms and 48 fewer written warnings issued dur-- ing the same time period, 1999 Terrace Trade Show 50/50 Draw WINNING NUMBERS!! Friday, April 23: 765143 Saturday, April 24; 392033 838341 765384 Sunday, April 25: Inquiries? Please leave message at 635-5776 Skeena Valley Rotary Club fib, |: 5.99». a “New York” Strip Loin Steak Boneless. 199. Lobster Tails Cuban. Frozen. 4105 oz. 188 Saleway Club Price Fresh GOES Strawberries Product of Califomia. No, 1 Grade, Approx. 5 Ibs, SAVE up to $6.00 5 Safeway Club Price Jhirmack Shampoo or Conditioner Z 300 mL. Or Styling Products, aa Assorted varieties and sizes, FIRST | - ont; THREE - Combined varieties, SAVE up to $2,00 Safeway Club Price Safeway SELECT Soft Drinks Assorted varieties. 2 Litre, Plus deposit or enviro levy where applicable. FIRST THREE - Combined varieties. SAVE up to 40¢ at + "tin MOINS ‘ageanis tye AM ei 5.99. Safeway Club Price Boston Strawberry Shortcake 8 Inch. FROM THE SAKERY SAVE up to 4.00 00 AER eta p “atte: