While property crimes are down locally, the number of violent crimes shot up at the end of last year according to the RCMP.
Statistics for the 4th quarter of 2022 show a 32% increase in violent crimes within the City of Port Alberni, and a 118% year-over-year increase in the rural areas.
Police say there has been a spike in calls from youth aged 12-18 years old due to a troubling rise in gang activity.
Youth violence has been reported in and around ADSS, and led to the cancellation of the ‘Nights Alive’ teen events at Gyro Centre.
RCMP and Social Service representatives who work with youth were at city council yesterday, requesting a half-million dollars for a 5-year violence prevention program aimed at local teens.
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