Community crime prevention initiatives are returning to FSJ, but for how long?

Editorial

Crime Scene Tape (Source: Pexels)

Crime has been steadily increasing in Fort St. John in the last few years, despite analytics that show that the city has simply returned to “historical norms”. Statistics aside, the situation is clear to residents.

Windows of businesses covered with plywood at regular intervals, as one incident of vandalism gives way to another almost as soon as repairs are completed. Businesses closed for a few days while owners assess the damage and beef up security measures. City amenities vandalized and closed while, like the businesses, repairs are carried out. Countless vehicles and other property vanishing from business and residential properties in the city and surrounding rural area. Debris and filth found behind businesses in the city . . . The list goes on.

Complaints about the situation, and the lack of measures to address it, run rampant on social media. Residents rightly bemoan the inability of police to stop the crime wave. Not because the police don’t care, or don’t want to catch these criminals, but because government policies are resulting in criminals being released before the ink is dry on their latest mugshots. But no actionable solutions have been offered.

Until one intrepid resident took it upon herself to bring Citizens on Patrol back to Fort St. John.