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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-03-11, Page 5Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - Page A5 Central Huron leads county in assault charges: OPP 1.51beeh sun media Central Huron's Deputy Reeve is con- cerned some residents will be up in 'arms about Huron County OPP statistics that reveal Central Huron leads the county. in assault charges. During a presentation to Huron County council by • OPP In- spector Dan Grant, March 4, councillors were guided through a comprehensive report of crime statistics from each of the county's nine municipalities. As such, Central Huron found itself leading the number of assault charges laid theft -under -$5,000 charges, as well as the most number of traffic complaints. at 203. Impaired driving continues to be prob- lematic in Huron County, says Grant, as sta- tistics show the OPP charged 26 impaired drivers in South Huron, 20 in Central Hu- ron, 18 in Goderich, 17 in Huron East, 12 in Bluewater, seven in Morris Turnberry and Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh, five in North Huron and four in Howick. • Grant says in- creased enforcement and more Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) programs can • be credited with some of the figures. "Impaired -driving charges " increased' • "It's not a simple matter of identifying one situation ... We have had some issues within the Town of Clinton .itself." • - OPP Inspector Dan Grant with 156, nearly twice the number in the next closest community of Goderich at 78. "Maybe you can enlighten us as to why Central Huron has this problem?" asked Cour. John Bezaire (Central Huron). Grant reports one of the factors affect- ing ,Central Huron's high -assault rate is the fact it is home to the Bluewater Youth Correctional facility where assaults are in- vestigated by the OPP. Further, says Grant, the number of schools in Clinton, at five, is another factor. . "It's not a simple matter of identifying one situation," he says. "We have had some issues within the Town of Clinton itself." There are a number of barriers to police curtailing incidents involving assault, says Grant. "Assault prevention is not one of the easiest things," he says. Central Huron also leads the county in the number of break and enters at 56, and drug-related charges at 40. South Huron leads the nine munici- palities with the most false alarms at 230, Huron East leads in arson charges at six, Goderich has the most mischief charges at 120, North Huron had the most robber- ies at three, Huron East had the most theft over $5,000 charges at 18, while South Huron leads the municipalities with 173 substantially," he says. "It's good that we're catching them, it's bad that they're out there." In that same vein, Grant reports 55 mo- torists were charged under new provincial legislation, known as the racing law, for driving at speeds of more than 50 kilome- tres over the posted limit. Total occurrences for each municipality show South Huron with 888, Central Hu- ron with 751, Goderich with 737, Huron East with 679, Bluewater with 382, ACW with 281, Morris Turnberry with 186, Ho - wick with 170 and North Huron with 112. Another issue impacting the county is the increasing number. of deer collisions, notes Grant, who points to stats. indicat- ing the number of incidents has steadily Ian Matthcw CharLcrcd Accounianl Accounting and Tax Services for Individuals & Business P.O. Box 152 Hayfield, ON NOM 1GO p: 519-565-5336 f: 519-565-5345 c: 519-242-7366 e-mail: iaamatthew@tcc.on.ca OtJE8EC0fi MEOU Bowes Publishers Limited A Subsidiary of Sun Media Corporation - A Quebecor Company The Goderkh Signal -Star, published every Wednesda , 52 times per year, at Goderich, Ontario is one of The S Publishing Group of Community Newspapers. The Signal -Star stall not be table for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the poet of that porton of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisemertt Subscription rate ie $40.00 per ye& plus GEM The Goderich Signal -Star is a member of The Canadian Newspaper Association (CCNA), The Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA), and the Ontario Press Coundl. For any non deliveries or delivery concerns please call 519- 524-2614. Return al undelvered copies, changes of acidness and sub- scription order to address below. Pibications Mail agreement No. 40084683 PAP ia 7802 Rel an Registration Gonadial addresses to Cir dalton Dept P.O. Box 220,120 Huckins 8't., Qoderich, Ont., N7A 486 (519) 524-2614 emait sepcincebowesnetoom We adarawtedge the Mantel s''oport of the Government of Canada through the Publications Aeeistanoe Program towards our mating costs Canada grown since 1993. Indeed, stats reveal the number of deer -related crashes peaked this year at more than 350, up from the 2003 record of slightly under 350. Part of the reason for that, says Grant, is an increasing deer population; a topic that he suggests should be addressed by the powers that be. Motor -vehicle collisions are also on the rise at a "startling" rate as there were 1,249 incidents in 2008, up from 1,221 in 2007. That topic led Central Huron's deputy reeve to address citizen complaints about OPP cruisers speeding through communi- ties as well at least two OPP cruiser colli- sions in recent months • Grant says he is well aware of the problem and several younger officers are being sent for driver training to address the issue. "There is a trend around younger of- ficers to be in those types of collisions," he says. "It's not something we're go- ing to Jet go by the wayside." Further, Grant urges citizens with complaints about cruisers to call the OPP with the time of day and date of the incident so that the issue can be .promptly dealt with. • Grant told council the focus is upon en- forcement, investigation and crime pre- vention. New ways in stepping up enforcement, says Grant, include two new All Terrain Vehicles that police will use to patrol trails in the summer months. Police have also updated sleds in order to patrol sled trails where hundreds of charges were laid over the winter. In praising the work of the OPP, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, Coun. Dave Johnston (Bluewater) moved a motion, which council endorsed, thank- ing the OPP for its good work. Great Cars. Great Rates. Now available ilpth ' winter tires.: Call or visit us today! Highway 21 south of Goderich at Hyundai of Goderich. 519-524-1795 A Licensee 01 Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. Inc. or ita Affiliate. 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