There is no doubt crime is on the rise in Prince George but one city councillor is reminding people that all involved are doing the best they can with what they have, including RCMP.
Kelowna recently had two residents decide to take matters into their own hands when a man was suspected of a break-in at a commercial building.
In that case in the Okanagan, RCMP issued a warning to citizens that they should call the police and not try to arrest someone themselves, which is something Prince George City Councillor Brian Skakun is stressing locally.
He says he sees comments circulating in Facebook groups where citizens are becoming bolder with statements saying they'll take matters into their own hands.
"My concern is they could put themselves in legal jeopardy and make the situation much worse," Skakun tells PrinceGeorgeMatters. "I totally empathize with them, but I don't encourage it at all."
He recently posted in a STOLEN Prince George Facebook group, explaining to the community there are numerous factors at play in the increase of crime in the city.
"I totally understand how people are frustrated in our community," he adds. "It's kind of reaching a boiling point and if people figure the RCMP can't do a lot with these petty crimes, criminals and that, they're thinking 'Wow. if the police can't do it, then we will.'"
The court system is a large concern as sometimes those that commit crimes will get off with a light sentence or released which causes some to re-offend.
"It's not just the police," he says "They know the police are trying to do the best they can. It's the court system where these people get picked up for different kinds of crime and the next thing you know, they do two weeks or a month and then they're back out."
Another issue in many communities across the province is mental health and the opioid crisis. Skakun points out Prince George is a hub for many in the interior who will come for social services. He adds those that come to the community from other places and are arrested and then released, will sometimes stay in the city, which can increase crime as well.
"One of the problems with Prince George, and we've talked about it a lot at city council, people get out of provincial jail here in Prince George and a lot of times, they might end up staying here," he says. "They get back into that old lifestyle and then it's the same thing over and over again. We're kind of in a unique spot because we have all the social services in Prince George for basically the interior, so we attract all sorts of people here. If you talk to the RCMP members, a lot of people they deal with know they are on the mental edge. It's a real combination of things and it's frustrating to see it happen."
Skakun points to a double-edged sword, so to speak, as he understands the frustrations of the community that may have their home or car broken into and a lack of police action, noting many may not understand how the RCMP works but the community isn't in the wrong either.
"It's very difficult because when someone gets their house or car broken into, they feel violated," he says. "They want the police there right away. A lot of times the police don't necessarily show up, they give them a file number and then they're thinking 'What the hell is that about?' and I think they don't fully understand how the RCMP operate but I don't think their expectations of the RCMP are out of line either to show up faster if they can and work on some of these smaller crimes if you will."
He says if you are concerned about your neighborhood, you can go to city hall and fill out a delegation form and talk in front of the council about issues in your area which helps highlight the incidents. Skakun thinks this is one of the best things they can do. He also is available to contact should people want to voice their frustrations.
"Don't give up on our community," he says. "Prince George is a great place to live and we're suffering crime like a lot of other places and that doesn't mean it's right. Call RCMP and keep up with the social media posts, pictures of people when they come into your yard, etc because I really do think in the long run, what citizens are doing with the social media aspect will really make a difference."
- With files from Rob Gibson, Castanet
