As a result of Richmond’s low crime rate, the city’s taxpayers pay more to the RCMP than the actual policing value they receive.
Integrated RCMP squads service many municipalities in B.C. and policing costs are shared amongst them. However some municipalities have higher crime rates.
According to a report to the city’s safety committee last week from Anne Stevens, the city’s manager of community safety policy and programs, Richmond paid $372,455 more for policing than was necessary last year. Over the past three years the city has paid an extra $182,000 per year for multi-jurisdictional policing.
The bills are a result of integrated police units such as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) and the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS).
With few murders in Richmond, IHIT accounts for most of Richmond’s overcharges, while the city receives slightly more value for ICARS. The funding formula is based on 25 per cent population and 75 per cent of criminal offences committed within each municipality. So, Richmond residents de facto subsidize murder investigations in Surrey.
Last year, the city spent $3.3 million on integrated RCMP services. By 2020, those costs are expected to reach $4.7 million per year, according to RCMP data in the report.
This month, Richmond RCMP unveiled its strategic plan for the next two years, citing goals such as increased community engagement and property crime reduction.
The plan noted that over the past decade calls for service to the detachment have been reduced from about 50,000 in 2004 to about 37,500 in 2013.
Property crime, violent crime and traffic fatalities are also on the decline.
However, the plan notes while crime is down, the “complexity” of policing has increased by 52 per cent over the past three years.
More time and effort must be spent on pursuing criminals with computer technology and calls for service related to mental health and social disorders have escalated.
This year Richmond RCMP introduced an online crime reporting website for lost, damaged or stolen property valued at under $5,000.
z See full report at Richmond-News.com.
