Crime maps available online
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Updated: November 19, 2009 3:38 PM
by Inspector Pat Walsh
I am pleased to now be able to provide on-line access to local crime maps via our public website at www.mission.rcmp.ca
These crime maps are compiled on a weekly basis by the detachment crime analyst and are used to direct the operations and focus of our front-line personnel. Their greatest utility is in being able to give our people a graphic display of emerging crime trends and localized areas of unusually high crime or “hot spots.”
We have amalgamated the weekly crime maps into a monthly electronic report and are pleased to share this with you on an on-going basis. The maps will give you a good overview of crime that is occurring in our jurisdiction and indeed in your neighbourhood.
For this purpose, we are not charting all crime but rather the “index” crimes that we feel you would be most interested in knowing about, because of their direct impact on most citizens.
The prevention and interdiction of crime is a responsibility that we all share. A cornerstone of this philosophy is that people firstly need to be aware of what is happening around them and to their neighbours. These public crime maps are a good first step in that direction. Rest assured that the men and women of Mission detachment are also well aware of the crime that is happening in our neighbourhoods and are working hard in respect to prevention as well as in their efforts to take the repeat offenders off of our streets and turn them over to the courts to be dealt with according to law.
Questions and/or feedback on the data may be directed to Mission’s crime analyst at 604-826-7161.
by Carol Aun
Mission Record
Looking at the crime maps one month at a time may not provide a complete picture. Police look at the stats each month, as well as the numbers from the previous months and the same time last year.
“We look for trends over time,” explained Mission RCMP Insp. Pat Walsh.
Police look at the levels over the last two years to see if there is anything outside the historical norm.
For example, if there were a lot of cars being stolen in an area, police will look at who’s new in the neighbourhood and rely on the knowledge of local officers. If there is a high risk offender around, RCMP will pay closer attention to the individual.
Mounties will create an action plan once a crime trend is noticed to hopefully remedy the situation. Police will also continue monitoring the situation.
‘We try to reduce the overall number of crimes,” said Walsh.
The crime maps are used as a as a planning and response tool in the overall crime reduction strategy.
While it’s more useful for police to compare crime rates over certain periods of time, a one month snapshot of it will inform people where crimes are taking place, and hopefully draw awareness.
The crime maps are available on the Mission RCMP website.
In the future, Walsh also hopes to create maps publishing where marijuana grow operations have been found.
