Hay River RCMP launch repeat offender program to tackle criminal activity
Hay River RCMP have put a program in place to monitor repeat offenders and tackle criminal activity in the South Slave community.
The program, called the Habitual Offender/Repeat Offender Management System, aims to identify and monitor individuals most likely to cause significant harm to the community.
RCMP media relations officer Cst. Josh Seaward told CBC the initiative began in February 2024 and it has shown positive results. The RCMP is currently monitoring seven prolific offenders and five of those offenders have been arrested as a result of the program, some multiple times, he said.
"This has resulted in 22 charges for failures to abide by various court-imposed conditions being laid. A further 28 related charges have been laid under various other sections of the Criminal Code," Seaward said.
The program has already seen significant activity since it was launched, with 76 patrols conducted in Rowe's trailer park and 113 in the downtown area, including high-traffic spots like the arena and library. These patrols are designed to detect and deter illicit behaviour.
A proactive initiative has also been launched to check high-risk offenders, ensuring they adhere to their release and court-imposed conditions.
"These checks have uncovered offences taking place that police would otherwise not have been aware of," said Seaward.
"Often times prolific offenders are active in the local drug trade, and detecting violations of their release conditions can contribute to the disruption of illicit drug activity."
Seaward said a curfew check is one way the RCMP use the system to monitor repeat offenders.
An officer will knock on an offender's residence to ensure they are adhering to their court ordered curfew hours. If they are unable to present themselves without a reasonable excuse then the offender is in breach of their conditions which will result in an arrest.
These conditions most often include curfew or house arrest. But they can also include no-contact orders, restrictions on entering certain areas or communities and mandatory reporting.
'There's real problems in the communities'
The Hay River RCMP is also urging the public to support their efforts by providing information to combat the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics.
Longtime Hay River resident Hans Wiedemann is in favour of the program but is calling for increased action from the territorial government to reduce crime.
Wiedemann grew up in Hay River and said he's watched the once familiar community become overwhelmed with criminal and drug activity.
Hans Wiedemann said he thinks the program is a good idea, but wants the territorial government to step in to do more to help people in Hay River. (Submitted)
"People are dying in the streets. Kids are dying in the streets," Wiedemann said. "Regardless of social standing, they're all somebody's kids."
He said the program is a step in the right direction, but he wants to know what the territory is doing to address the root causes of these issues, like addictions and mental health.
Hay River residents have been calling for a treatment centre in the community for years after a rise in drug-related deaths and criminal activity.
"Where's the elected representatives? They should be out there on the front line. They should be holding meetings. There's real problems in the communities. Roll up your sleeves. Talk to the people you represent," he said.
Wiedemann said he also wants to see the territory revisit the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act. The controversial bill aimed to crack down on bootleggers and drug dealers but it was shot down in the legislature in 2007.
"It's been promised repeatedly, but where is it? Our RCMP are doing what they can with limited tools, but they need more support." he said.
"The government's got to step up. Quit being paid tourists."
