Calls for police service are down in Essex: Fewer violent crimes and drug offences reported in 2015

Calls for police service are down in the Town of Essex, according to a report provided to the Town’s Police Services Board on January 7.

Ontario Provincial Police Inspector Glenn Miller reported that total calls for service at the first offence level were down five percent in 2015 compared to 2014. The data provided by the OPP shows a decrease in calls of three to five percent annually since 2011.

Violent crime at the first offence level was down 15 percent, drug offences down 37 percent, and motor vehicle collisions down 8 percent in 2015.

Although a slight increase in property offences was noted (280 incidents in 2015, up from 274 in 2014), this category of offence is down 37 percent since 2012 when it peaked at 445 offences.

The largest increase noted was in the number of domestic disturbances, up 16 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. Since 2011, the number of reported domestic disturbances is up 47 percent. Inspector Miller says that changing perceptions about domestic abuse and greater reluctance to conceal it are contributing to increased reporting of this type of incident to local police.

Councillor Bill Caixeiro, chair of the Essex Police Services Board, is pleased that police service calls are down.

“We’re very proud that Essex is a safe place to live,” says Caixeiro. “Safe communities provide a source of community pride, encourage families and people of all ages to move to them, and provide a high quality of life for residents. Along with several other communities in Windsor-Essex, we’re already recognized as one of the safest communities in Canada. The OPP report for 2015 confirms this and shows a clear trend towards fewer violent crimes and drug offences.”

At the January 7th meeting, Inspector Miller also announced that the OPP has awarded the Essex region an additional staff sergeant. Staff Sergeant Mike Beatty has been appointed to the position and will be stationed at the Harrow detachment.

The Ontario Provincial Police provide contract police protection for the Town of Essex. The service contract is administered by the Essex Police Services Board.