5 |Thursd ay Au gust 17, 2017 | OAKVILLE BEAVER |w w w .insidehalton.com Crime rate low despite rise in criminal offences: police by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Despite an 11 per cent increase in criminal offences Halton police note the region continues to have one of the low est crime rates in the country The Halton Regional Police Service Board examined the police service's Mid-Year Performance Report during its Thursday (Aug. 10) meeting. The report found that from January to June 2017, there were 679 more criminal offences reported totaling 5,650 than in 2016, which saw only 4,971. This represents an 11 per cent increase w hen the region's population growth is taken into consideration. M uch of this increase can be attributed to property crime, w hich rose by 23.1 per cent -- from 3,171 incidents in 2016 to 3,904 in 2017. Violent crime, on the other hand, dropped 4.4 per cent -- from 1,109 incidents in 2016 to 1,060 in 2017. Impaired driving apprehensions were up 29 per cent -- from 207 in 2016 to 267 in 2017. Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner said this rise may be due to a greater use of Breathalyzer tests being conducted at roadside stops in recent months. The number of crimes cleared by Halton York, Peel, Durham and Niagara regions as w ell as Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Sudbury, Waterloo and London. The region with the closest crime rate level was York Region with 2,215 incidents per 100,000 people. London had the highest crime rate of the group with 6,309 incidents per 100,000. Halton also had the low est violent crime rate of 385 incidents per 100,000 people and the low est property crime rate of 1,246 incidents per 100,000 people. The report also show s Halton police had the highest clearance rate of this group for 2016 and the low est officer to resident ratio with 120 officers per 100,000 people. Isn't It About Time For A Hearing Test??? C o m e A n d V is it A n I n d e p e n d e n t, C a r in g F a m ily H e a r in g A id C lin ic Halton Police Chief Stephen Tanner Jennifer Nolan All Services, Sales, Hearing Tests, Programming, Repairs, Batteries, Home Visits Wendy C asw ell police in 2017 is currently sitting at 49.5 per cent, w hich is slightly below the 2016 level of 51.4 per cent. The total calls for service during this 2017 period increased by 9.4 per cent to 84,465 from 77,198 in 2016. Halton police note it is important to view these numbers in context, stating the overall Halton crime rate in 2016 -- of 1,870 incidents per 100,000 people -- was the low est of 11 comparators, w hich included Latest in technology, models and styles, blue tooth and accessories. Price ranges from $ 5 0 0 00 to elite levels. J i r 3 S yea rs m d `x p e r te ie LA K ESH Q RE HEARING P P aramedical SERVICES E s t a b lis h e d S in c e 1 9 7 9 113 JO N E S STR EET, O A K V IL L E , ON · 9 0 5 -8 2 7 -2 9 0 2 SUMMER SALE A U G U S T 17th - S E P T E M B E R 2, 2017 g f o t e ll karcher SAVINGS ON HOME AND GARDEN CLEANING EQUIPMENT #16022240 #17663030 #13481150 #87547950 Karcher K2 Plus 1600 psi/1.25 gpm Electric Pressure Washer Karcher S650 Outdoor Push Sweeper 25.6" Sweeping Width Karcher WD4 Wet/Dry Vacuum 1800 Watt Motor, 20 L Capacity Karcher WV60 Plus Lithium-ion Battery Cordless Window Vacuum W eekly specials on pressure w ashers, sw eepers, w et/dry vacuum s, and professional grade cleaning supplies & accessories V IS IT O U R S H O W R O O M 2600 BRISTO L CIRCLE, O A KVILLE, ON www.swishclean.com I 1-800-509-3563 1 Q Q w © f FREE GIFT WITH ANY PURCHASE OVER $100