Downtown business owner questions index trend

The Crime Severity Index differs from traditional crime rates because it measures both the volume and seriousness of police-reported crimes. More serious offences such as homicide are weighted more heavily than less serious offences, meaning fluctuations in major crimes can have a significant impact on overall scores.

Prince George RCMP say the latest numbers reflect years of work aimed at reducing crime and improving community safety.

Corporal Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer with the Prince George RCMP, says a combination of targeted policing initiatives has helped contribute to the decline.

“I think it’s a couple of different policing strategies that we have, you know, enacted over the last couple of years to see this decline. We have a few more public facing enforcement units, such as our downtown safety unit and our problem oriented policing team that are really there to target hotspots, and kind of alleviate some of that pressure from our frontline police officers.”

RCMP officials have pointed to the Downtown Safety Unit, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Downtown Operational Traffic units as examples of enforcement teams specifically focused on areas of concern. Police say these units are able to respond quickly to emerging issues while allowing frontline officers to continue handling calls for service and criminal investigations.

The force also credits partnerships with organizations including City of Prince George Bylaws and BC Housing for helping address social and public safety challenges through a coordinated approach.

RCMP Superintendent Darin Rappel says the declining Crime Severity Index mirrors another trend police have been tracking.

“We continue to see the CSI drop along with the number of police calls for service,” Rappel said in a statement. “While crime trends have many factors that influence them, we know that our work with our community partners such as City Bylaws, B.C. Housing, and many others, continues to make a positive impact in our community.”

Police also point to diversion programs, increased collaboration with mental health providers and work within local schools as helping create alternative pathways that may prevent individuals from entering the criminal justice system.

Cooper says one factor influencing the latest statistics is a decline in homicides, which carry significant weight within the Crime Severity Index calculation.

“One of the things that we can maybe look at to get a better perspective on this drop is our homicide rates over the last two years have dropped, and homicides are actually weighted very heavily on the CSI.”

While RCMP view the numbers as an encouraging sign, some business owners say the statistics do not necessarily reflect what they experience day to day.

John Zukowski, a long-time downtown business owner, says he has not noticed a substantial improvement in criminal activity affecting local businesses despite the lower Crime Severity Index.

“Well, plainly, no, there’s been no change when the Crime Severity Index is leaning on homicides as its main base point for stats. Okay. We don’t have a lot of homicides in Prince George compared to Toronto or other major centers. The bottom line is, our crime hasn’t changed any here.”

Zukowski believes the way the Crime Severity Index is calculated can sometimes create a disconnect between statistical trends and public perception, particularly when businesses are dealing with issues such as shoplifting, vandalism or other lower-level offences that may not significantly influence the overall score.

He acknowledged that increased visibility from police officers can act as a deterrent, but questions whether enough resources are available during times when businesses feel they are needed most.

“The more that you have enforcement around them literally showing the colors. Yeah, that’s going to be a deterrence but that’s obvious. After hours they disappear. The crime still exists because you haven’t got the presence at night at the critical times when that deterrence is most needed.”

Zukowski also argues additional work is needed from local government and community leaders to address ongoing public safety concerns and support the downtown business community.

The contrasting views highlight the challenge of interpreting crime data. While the Crime Severity Index is widely used to identify long-term trends and compare communities, it represents only one measurement of public safety.

RCMP maintain the latest numbers demonstrate progress and believe proactive enforcement units, collaborative partnerships and prevention-focused initiatives are helping improve outcomes throughout the city.

Meanwhile, some business owners remain cautious, saying public perception and experiences on the street have yet to fully align with the downward trend reflected in the statistics.

As Prince George’s Crime Severity Index continues to fall, the conversation now shifts from the numbers themselves to what residents, businesses and law enforcement are seeing in their daily lives and whether those improvements will continue in the years ahead.

by Nick Dube

Downtown business owner questions index trend

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