Rising crime rates plague Gatineau amidst labour shortage in police force
Tashi Farmilo
The Outaouais region witnessed a concerning surge in its crime rate during the year 2022, echoing a trend seen across the province of Quebec. The Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG) is facing the challenge of combating this rise in criminal activity, while grappling with a shortage of personnel.
A recently released report by the Department of Public Security disclosed that Quebec's overall crime rate surged by 10.5% in 2022 compared to the previous year. The Outaouais region faced an even more pronounced increase, with its crime rate soaring by 21.9% in the same period.
This surge in criminal activity is marked by a notable increase in crimes against both property and persons. A closer examination of the data indicates that crimes against property surged by 28.0%, while crimes against persons escalated by 20.7%. Among property-related crimes, incidents of theft under $5,000 rose alarmingly by 681 cases. Instances of fraud experienced a surge of 344 incidents, while break and enter cases increased significantly by 291, making a substantial contribution to the overall crime rate rise.
Andrée East, a representative from the Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG), acknowledged the complexity of the challenge and the measures taken to address it. "In order to deal with this increase in population and crime, a staffing plan was approved in 2022 to add 71 resources over the next 5 years. This includes both police and civilian resources," East stated.
"Gatineau saw a sharp drop in crime during the pandemic. We are therefore back to crime rates that are fairly comparable to those we had before the pandemic. Although the figures for 2022 are slightly higher than those we had before the pandemic, the difference is much less pronounced than if we compare them to the figures for 2020 and 2021, i.e., during the pandemic," commented Andrée East.
"Gatineau is a vibrant and growing city. The city's population has been growing rapidly and steadily for several years, and it has a young population. It has been documented that most crimes are committed by young people," East explained.
East also highlighted the impact of cross-boundary criminal activities, stating, "We're located in the heart of the 4th largest urban area in the country: crime knows no boundaries, and we're also feeling the effects of crime and gangs in Ottawa, which has seen an increase in homicides and gun crime in recent years."
In the midst of these challenges, the SPVG remains committed to its collaborations and strategies. The police force is actively participating in integrated teams and regional committees to combat various criminal phenomena. Moreover, the SPVG is actively involved in the provincial CENTAURE strategy to combat gun violence, utilizing a comprehensive approach involving prevention, repression, and skill development. In 2022 alone, the SPVG seized 207 firearms.
The police force is working closely with community partners to address diverse issues, such as cohabitation with marginalized populations, domestic violence, and neighbourhood incivilities. Various action plans, including one focusing on domestic violence, have been developed to enhance practices and cooperation with partners for effective solutions.
Photo: Escalating Crime Rates Pose Challenges for Gatineau's Police Force. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo