Wednesday, Mar 10th

Last update:05:40 PM AST




2009 year-end stats released

Earlier today at the Board of Police Commissioners’ monthly meeting, Chief Frank Beazley of Halifax Regional Police and Superintendent Darrell Beaton, Officer in charge of RCMP Halifax District, presented the 2009 year-end crime statistics.

While the overall crime rate has held relatively steady, both violent crime and property crime have increased slightly.

Compared with 2008, overall violent crime in 2009 is up 1%, with homicides increasing by four cases for a total of eleven; attempt homicides increasing by four incidents for a total of 26; a slight increase in assaults and a slight decrease in robberies.

Property crime figures are up 6% overall, including increases in theft and break and enters, and a decrease in thefts from motor vehicles.

HRM Partners in Policing recognize that crime is cyclical and we expect to see fluctuations in the crime rate.

Each of the previous four years saw decreases in our overall crime rates while the 2009 rate hit a plateau, with increases in some categories and decreases in others.

The increases concern us, and we remain committed to our crime reduction strategy which puts officers in closer contact with the communities we serve across HRM and swiftly addresses crime hot spots.

We are confident we are on the right track and utilizing the right combination of enforcement and outreach to suppress and address crime and disorder in our community.

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Changing Gears: Youth Cycling in Nova Scotia

Changing Gears: Youth Cycling in Nova Scotia

Changing Gears: Youth Cycling in Nova Scotia workshop takes place on Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  at the Dartmouth Sportsplex Nantucket Room.

The workshop will consider the obstacles to more youth cycling in Nova Scotia and identify solutions. They are looking for your ideas.

The Halifax Cycling Coalition website states that:

“The number of young people who cycle to school, recreational activities and just for fun has plummeted in the past two decades.

This decline in personal mobility has resulted in increased time in Mom’s and Dad’s Taxi and to physical inactivity that is causing significant long-term health problems for the next generation.”

The goal of the...

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March Traffic Unit Update

March Traffic Unit Update

In their continued effort to address road safety issues and educate citizens on the rules of the road, the HRP/RCMP Integrated Traffic Unit will focus on daytime running lights and cell phones during the month of March.

On April 1, 2008 hand-held cell phone use and text messaging while driving became prohibited, and on April 13, 2009 it became mandatory for all vehicles in Nova Scotia to use daytime running lights.

Both of these changes are aimed at helping to keep our roadways safe.

In February, the Unit’s focus was tinted windows and suspended drivers. They wrote 1,198 tickets during the month, including 32 for tinted windows and nine for driving while suspended.

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Winter parking ban will be lifted tonight

The Overnight Winter Parking Ban in the urban core service area of Halifax Regional Municipality expires at one minute to midnight tonight.

The ban is being lifted earlier than usual this year in recognition of the mild weather and the continuing mild forecast for the remainder of the week.

The overnight ban went into effect on December 14, 2009 in the urban core service area. The ban can remain in place until the end of March but can also be lifted earlier by the HRM Traffic Authority if weather permits.

“The intention was to lift the ban on March 12, but the stretch of milder weather has made it possible to do it now,” said Traffic Authority Ken Reashor.

This year saw 10,503 tickets issued for...

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