Belleville Police responded to approximately 30,000 calls for service last year, a 9% increase over 2021.
The total number of crimes reported rose 17%.
A report to the Police Services Board shows a 40% rise in the number of robbery calls and while Chief Mike Callaghan calls it a very significant increase, he says recent arrests made during Project Coyote should alleviate some of these incidents moving forward.
There was also a 34% increase in break and enter calls.
Reported car thefts rose 100% however Chief Callaghan says they did arrest two members of a known car theft ring from Montreal and car thefts dropped in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Assault and sex offence calls each rose last year – 12% and 17% respectively.
There was a 50% decrease in the number of homicides but Chief Callaghan calls the increase in homicides in 2021 an anomaly.
Fraud calls went up 47% with police attributing a large number of these frauds to telephone and bank scams targeting the elderly.
There were decreases in the number of drug-related calls ( down 12%).
Arsons were down 22% and there was an 8% decrease in the uttering threats category.
The chief also notes that the police service has been in a reactive mode to policing issues due to staffing shortages however he expects that to change by the third quarter of this year.
The Police Services Board approved its budget last month which includes a plan to hire four new officers bringing the total number of officers to 98.
Chief Callaghan says the increase in staffing will allow them to initiate a more proactive policing approach.
The report also shows a significant number of 911 hang-up calls in the fourth quarter of 2022.
These calls are costly as, due to policies and procedures, officers must make sure the caller is safe, taking up a lot of time.
Chief Callaghan says in 2024 he would like to seek funding to initiate a public awareness campaign and education program for 911 hang ups.
There was a 31% increase in security screenings at the courthouse and a 27% increase in requests for criminal record checks which police attribute to COVID measures being relaxed.
The Belleville Police Services Board meets Thursday, March 16.
