NORTH BATTLEFORD — Battlefords RCMP are generally pleased with the latest RCMP crime report for North Battleford but say more work needs to be done.
Battlefords RCMP presented the third-quarter results from October to December 2025 at the recent City of North Battleford council meeting.
The report shows an overall one per cent increase in total offences, reflecting 3,558 reports for the period, compared to 3,527 for the same time in 2024.
Person offences increased by five per cent, with 307 reports for the period in 2025, compared to 293 reports for the same period in 2024.
Property offences decreased by 17 per cent, with 706 reports for the fourth quarter in 2025, compared to 851 reports for the same time in 2024.
"Generally, we're pleased with the stabilizing of numbers across the board over the five-year trend," Insp. Ryan How said. "The fourth-quarter statistics are in line with what we've seen from the previous three quarters."
He noted that any increase in person crime is always concerning.
"We're really looking towards suppressing violent crime," How said.
He added that more property crime needs to be reported.
"As I always say, when it comes to property crime offences, while the decrease in statistics is welcome, we are very concerned the public's not reporting even minor offences," How said. "It may be just frustration at the perceived lack of consequences in the judicial system or not wanting to bother the RCMP with what they feel are minor offences."
He said that going into 2026, the Battlefords RCMP's staffing levels are looking much better, and the RCMP are going to be implementing some strategies and planning to tackle some of the property crime issues.
"It's imperative the public gives us an active view of where these offences are happening," How said.
Heading into 2026, he said there are a couple of priorities the Battlefords RCMP will be focusing on, primarily focusing on prolific violent offenders.
"Now that our staffing levels are rising, we're going to be spending a lot of time being proactive, checking on offenders that have been released from custody and have conditions, and being relentless with our monitoring of these subjects," How said. "Essentially, enough is enough when it comes to the violence in our community, and we're not going to tolerate it."
The RCMP will also be cracking down on public disturbance cases.
"We're going to be focusing on the public disturbance files and calls that we get, especially in our downtown area, but throughout the city," How said. "We've tried to be as compassionate as possible, dealing with some of the offenders that are causing repeated problems in our downtown area and businesses. Going into 2026, we're going to be taking a zero-tolerance approach. Again, enough is enough. We have to take a hard line to make sure that the public feels safe and that a minimum standard for behaviour is maintained. We encourage the public, if they're seeing any disorderly conduct, to call it in. Our officers will be there as soon as they can, and there will be charges and arrests for this type of behaviour."
