The most common calls to police in West sa国际传媒 last year were false alarms.聽
In 2023, there were 363 such calls, or nearly one every day, according to RCMP statistics to be presented Tuesday to city council.聽
Next most common type of call related to traffic accidents or other motor vehicle incidents, at 285. There were 212 calls about people disturbing the peace, and 199 calls about both assaults and mental health issues.聽
Most false alarms received by police are triggered by faulty or overly-sensitive residential and commercial security alarms. To try to reduce such calls, local municipalities have greatly increased the fees for false alarm responses.
Earlier this year, the Central Okanagan Regional District board introduced a new fee scheme for false alarms. While there is no charge for the first false alarm, the cost for a second rose from zero to $100 for a residential property, and $200 for a commercial property.
A third false alarm now costs a homeowner $200 instead of $50, and a business owner pays $400 instead of $100.聽
"When permit holders are held responsible for their alarms, the number of false alarms decreases, as does the impact on police resources," regional district manager Sally Ginter said.聽
Last year, sa国际传媒 RCMP received 1,708 security alarms from throughout the Central Okanagan, almost three-quarters of which were false. But only 300 alarms were cancelled before police arrived, and there were just 84 valid alarms.
sa国际传媒 8,300 business and residential properties in Greater sa国际传媒 have alarms connected directly to the police. Two-thirds are residential and one-third are commercial.聽
There are 56 RCMP members working out of the West sa国际传媒 station.聽
