This is what happens when your economy depends on oil.
Edmonton Police release numbers linking crime to oil prices
Challenged to “prove” the drop in oil prices was linked to higher rates of crime in Edmonton, police Chief Rod Knecht has released the numbers.
Knecht linked falling oil prices and rising crime numbers during media interviews last week and Mayor Don Iveson said it was a sign Edmonton frequently has to handle all of Northern Alberta’s social problems.
Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake reacted to those comments and said northern communities were being painted unfairly.
“To say the stuff that happens in Fort McMurray causes impacts here in Edmonton directly is just not right,” she said. “I'm here to say we're not that easy to blame. Prove it.”
Knecht was not available Sunday, but police did release numbers that appear to show the link between crime and oil. The force used reported numbers of eight crimes, including four violent and four property crimes, to show the connection.
In January, 2013, when oil was at nearly $95 a barrel there were 1692 reported crimes, but in January 2015 with oil sitting near $47 that number increased to 2019 reports.
City Coun. Scott McKeen said he sees no reason to pit cities against each other in this debate.
“This isn’t an Edmonton versus Fort McMurray issue,” he said.
McKeen said he believes a drop in the economy can lead to higher crime, but he wants to take a solid look at the numbers.
“Crime statistics are extremely difficult to draw meaning from and it can take really thorough analysis to derive truth from them.”
Iveson was also unavailable Sunday, but has said many times previously that Edmonton needs more support for policing from the provincial government, because city police are dealing with problems from across Northern Alberta.
Veronica Jubinville, a spokesperson for Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley, said the minister hadn’t seen the numbers but looked forward to discussing them with Knecht.
“We’re committed to working with police forces across the province to utilize existing officers more efficiently, and to ensure adequate and effective policing is maintained.”
http://m.metronews.ca/#/article/new...ease-numbers-linking-crime-to-oil-prices.html
Edmonton Police release numbers linking crime to oil prices
Challenged to “prove” the drop in oil prices was linked to higher rates of crime in Edmonton, police Chief Rod Knecht has released the numbers.
Knecht linked falling oil prices and rising crime numbers during media interviews last week and Mayor Don Iveson said it was a sign Edmonton frequently has to handle all of Northern Alberta’s social problems.
Wood Buffalo Mayor Melissa Blake reacted to those comments and said northern communities were being painted unfairly.
“To say the stuff that happens in Fort McMurray causes impacts here in Edmonton directly is just not right,” she said. “I'm here to say we're not that easy to blame. Prove it.”
Knecht was not available Sunday, but police did release numbers that appear to show the link between crime and oil. The force used reported numbers of eight crimes, including four violent and four property crimes, to show the connection.
In January, 2013, when oil was at nearly $95 a barrel there were 1692 reported crimes, but in January 2015 with oil sitting near $47 that number increased to 2019 reports.
City Coun. Scott McKeen said he sees no reason to pit cities against each other in this debate.
“This isn’t an Edmonton versus Fort McMurray issue,” he said.
McKeen said he believes a drop in the economy can lead to higher crime, but he wants to take a solid look at the numbers.
“Crime statistics are extremely difficult to draw meaning from and it can take really thorough analysis to derive truth from them.”
Iveson was also unavailable Sunday, but has said many times previously that Edmonton needs more support for policing from the provincial government, because city police are dealing with problems from across Northern Alberta.
Veronica Jubinville, a spokesperson for Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley, said the minister hadn’t seen the numbers but looked forward to discussing them with Knecht.
“We’re committed to working with police forces across the province to utilize existing officers more efficiently, and to ensure adequate and effective policing is maintained.”
http://m.metronews.ca/#/article/new...ease-numbers-linking-crime-to-oil-prices.html
