Media Room

PRESS RELEASE

Adams Defends Spryfield Crime Stats

(Tuesday, December 5/2000)-- The people and community of Spryfield are getting a bad rap from the media and others regarding criminal activity in the area and recent 1999 crime statistics released by Halifax Regional Police prove it, says District 18 Councillor Stephen Adams.

The Councillor for Spryfield/Herring Cove says that by his calculation, the statistics place Spryfield in fifth place in terms of lowest crime rate, compared to the total of 14 Districts that are protected by the Halifax Regional Police.

"I have been saying this for some time...I even challenged the media to ask for the crime stats and see for themselves, but no one took me up on the offer. It still irks me that whenever there is an incident in Spryfield, its makes the front page or is the top story on the Six O'Clock News. Crime doesn't seem to get the same play when it happens in other Districts, " he said.

Councillor Adams said the incidence of crime in Spryfield rated about average, or in many cases below the average, when compared to statistics for the other Districts. For example:

• of the 1,897 assaults reported in the 14 Districts in 1999, Spryfield accounted for only 147 or 7.7 per cent. (The average per centage for all 14 Districts was 7.5%.)



• of the total 3,667 Break and Enters reported, 235 or 6.4 per cent were reported in Spryfield. (The average for all 14 Districts was 7.1%)



• of the total 297 hold-up alarms reported, 10 or 3 per cent were reported in Spryfield. (The average for all 14 Districts was 7.4 %)



• of the total 9,958 intrusion alarms reported, 289 or 2.9 per cent were reported in Spryfield.(The average for all 14 Districts was 7.14 %)



• of the total 3,470 Liquor Control Act offences reported, 91 or 2.6 per cent were reported in Spryfield. (The average for all 14 Districts was 7.14 %)



• of the total 288 sex offences reported, 18 or 6.25 per cent were reported in Spryfield. (The average for all 14 Districts was 7.14 %)



• of the total 3,979 thefts reported, 184 or 4.6 per cent were reported in Spryfield. (The average for all 14 Districts was 7.14 %)

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Councillor Stephen Adams
(902) 497-8818