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Accident rate up 10 per cent Police scale back TASER use Continued from page 1 3 · Thursday, March 1, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com dents in 2011). Property crime in Halton -- theft, breakins, mischief, arson, fraud and possession of stolen goods -- dropped by 13 per cent (11,268 incidents in 2010 to 10,025 incidents in 2011). Other crimes -- including bail violations and those involving counterfeit currency, disturbing the peace, prostitution and offensive weapons -- were down 8.4 per cent from 1,158 incidents in 2010 to 1,084 incidents in 2011. Halton did see a hike in motor vehicle accidents in 2011. Police stated that despite a 19 per cent increase in traffic enforcement, traffic accidents were still 10.1 per cent higher in 2011 (7,649 incidents) over 2010 (8,425 incidents). Property damage collisions were up 10.5 per cent and injury collisions were up 8.2 per cent year over year. There were also more fatal accidents last year (15) compared to 2010 (13). "As police, we are doing everything we can, by using a combined approach of enforcement, education and engineering, to improve traffic safety, however, far too many people are still being injured or killed on our roads," said Crowell. "There is no question distracted drivers, impaired drivers and aggressive drivers are posing a serious risk to themselves and others. I cannot say it any more clearly: motorists must slow down, focus on the road, and do not get behind the wheel while under the influence of any substance, which could impair response or judgment." Police received 1.4 per cent fewer calls in 2011 (129,971) than in 2010 (128,202). The number of crimes solved in 2011 was also higher with 38.8 per cent solved in 2011 compared to 37.1 per cent solved in 2010. Halton police eased up on using the TASER on combative suspects last year, but increased their use of batons and pepper spray -- and drew guns more often in 2011. The Halton Regional Police Service released its annual statistics on use of force at its police services board meeting Thursday. The reports stated that in 2011, Halton police used an expandable baton in 10 incidents compared to five the previous year. Police use the baton to block incoming assaults or to deliver strikes in controlling assaultive behavior. The use of pepper spray by police also rose from nine incidents in 2010 to 11 in 2011. TASER use, however, dropped from 40 incidents in 2010 to 35 last year. Of those 35 incidents of use, 25 were deemed successful. The report indicated TASER use considered unsuccessful is generally caused by one of the two probes not hitting the suspect or not making a connection due to loose or thick clothing. Use of `soft' physical control techniques (such as joint locks, defensive blocking and compliance techniques) dropped from 44 incidents in 2010 to 22 last year. Use of `hard' physical control techniques (such as strikes delivered by the hand or leg) also dropped from 19 in 2010 to 15 See Police page 8 Hate-related incidents rising in Halton Halton police reported an increased number of hate-related incidents taking place in Halton in 2011 as last week's meeting of the Halton Regional Police Service Board. In total, there were 51 haterelated incidents in Halton during 2011, 19 of which fit the police definition of a hate crime. This is up from 41 hate-related incidents in 2010. Oakville had the highest number of such incidents at 19, 11 of which were considered hate crimes. Burlington followed with 15 incidents, including three hate crimes. Police define a hate-related incident as any act, criminal or not, that expresses bias, prejudice, bigotry or contempt towards a vulnerable or disadvantaged community or its members. Meanwhile, a hate crime is defined as a criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by the victim's race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability. The hate-related statistics See Graffiti page 8 Inside Opinion.............................................6 Health.............................................14 Sports..............................................17 Classified........................................21 Full Delivery: Tiger Direct, Pharma, Freshco, Food Basics, Metro, Bad Boy Furniture, Habitat for Humanity, M&M Meats, Hardwood Giant Centre, Oakville Minor Baseball, Rendezvous, JYSK, K. 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