Youth crime went up in Chatham-Kent last year, according to an annual report by municipal police.
Police said there were 162 criminal incidents involving youth in 2021 that resulted in 79 young people being charged with 164 charges. Police said that's about a 35 per cent jump in charges laid against youth by police, a 23 per cent climb in youths charged, and a 4.5 per cent increase in incidents when compared to 2020.
Chatham-Kent police also noted officers responded to 1,700 incidents involving youth in 2021, a 9.25 per cent jump. The incidents include missing youth, family disputes, and mental health. Topping the list of incidents are assault, threats, assault with a weapon, and sexual assault.
The report also showed that the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was deployed 144 times in Chatham-Kent last year, a decrease from 183 in 2020, but on par or more than previous years. CIRT is a highly trained unit that is used to peacefully resolve high-risk situations, including armed resistance or where a significant level of violence might be expected.
Police said they executed 18 high-risk warrants resulting in several arrests and the seizure of a "significant amount" of drugs, weapons, and stolen property in 2021. CIRT officers also answered the bell on three separate occasions for armed hostage/barricaded persons and two weapons calls that all resulted in arrests.
The report also showed that police responded to fewer attempts or threats of suicide and mental health incidents last year. Police said there was a 4.2 per cent decrease from 2020. The Mobile Crisis Team (MCT), a specialized unit to help people with mental health issues, arrested 51 people under the Mental Health Act and conducted 142 community assessments.
The Community Mobilization Section (CMS) also reported that social disorder, such as neighbour disputes, chronic noise complaints in apartment buildings, landlord/tenant matters, and homeless issues dominated the year. Some of the homeless issues included people squatting in unsafe and derelict buildings.
CMS officers also helped with security in downtown Wheatley while an investigation into a gas explosion continues.
