Barrhead RCMP to focus on repeat offenders

Town of Barrhead councillors have signed off on visibility and offender management as the local RCMP’s priorities for 2024.

Barrhead RCMP Cpl. Filipe Vicente, the detachment’s interim commanding officer, recommended the priorities to council in his presentation Feb. 13 where he also went over crime statistics.

Last year the RCMP focused on visibility and substance abuse issues, with a particular focus on targeting drug houses in the community. Vicente told councillors that because of work done in 2022 and 2023 on known drug houses, there are no specific places for police to target right now.

Instead, RCMP plan to focus more on keeping tabs on repeat offenders, particularly those with curfews as part of their bail conditions as they can be more easily charged with breaching those conditions. An accumulation of breach charges can end up with offenders being held in jail rather than continuing to be released into the community, Vicente said.

Councillors endorsed the plan unanimously, with Coun. Ty Assaf noting the repeat offender strategy would help get around the “catch and release” system that has developed in the courts.

Vicente said police are frustrated with habitual offenders being released after charges as much as the public.

“In the end it’s always the same 10, 20 people in the community that are causing all the issues,” said Vicente.

Barrhead County councillors signed off on the RCMP plan at their Feb. 6 meeting.