LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov thinks more surveillance cameras in the community's downtown core could help reduce crime.
Reutov suggested council look further into the issue after elected officials were presented a snapshot of the area's crime rates showing an increase in activity through recent months.
The Enforcement Services Department’s monthly report presented on July 4 paints a picture showing increased statistics relating to bylaw infractions, trespassing, loitering, and traffic incidents. The same report shows that the downtown area of Lac La Biche — currently a large construction zone — also experienced a significant increase in vagrancy, vandalism, and public intoxication complaints.
Chris Clark, the spokesperson for Lac La Biche County's Enforcement Services, says adding more lighting to the downtown area, as well as more cameras would be good ideas.
“We are hoping that the installation of lighting will further assist us as it illuminates the area much better,” Clark said, adding that his department have already looked at options for additional cameras in the community. He explained that one of the best advantages of installing 360-degree cameras is that they enable law enforcement to successfully identity suspects and track their movements.
Even as municipal administrators review a plan to add more camera's Clark says crime prevention is not just a role for peace officers and police, or managed with more lights and more lenses.
“Everyone needs to do their part by being vigilant and calling complaints in to enforcement services and the RCMP, depending on what is taking place,” he said, adding that peace officers have increased their patrols of the downtown area and react quickly to calls for service.
Those calls from the public and that response are vital to the crime enforcement and prevention, he says.
“That is the key to all of this.”
Councillors have voted to pass the question about more cameras onto municipal staff for further study before bringing it back to the table for discussion.
