Vehicle accident calls down by half during pandemic

While emergency and urgent calls are down, Durham police are continuing to see an increase in routine service calls amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the State of Emergency was declared in mid-March, Durham police have seen an 11.3 per cent drop in emergency calls and a 5.5 per cent drop in urgent calls, according to a Durham Regional Police Services (DRPS) press release.

Furthermore, service calls continue to be the highest volume of calls with an increase of 13. 5 per cent since the declaration, resulting in an overall increase in call volume of 4.37 per cent.

The DRPS compared the time period between March 17 and April 22, 2020 with the same time period in 2019 and noted significant changes in the types of calls.

Unwanted person calls are up 58 per cent (179 incidents), suspicious person calls are up 38 per cent (82 incidents), and domestic and domestic-related calls are up 14 per cent (77 incidents).

Furthermore, there has been a decrease in fight calls by 50 per cent (29 incidents), as well as a drop in theft calls by 21 per cent (42 incidents).

Police also noted that since the state of emergency, motor vehicle collisions have declined by 47 per cent (254 collisions) when comparing the same time frame this year with that in 2019.

The DRPS are continuing to patrol the community and respond to emergencies as they arise, and, like the rest of the community, are practicing social distancing and following personal protective protocols as required.

“The DRPS continues to adapt and respond to the changing nature of harm in the community and assist citizens and businesses under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA),” the release continues.

Durham police have received more than 1,600 public contacts/complaints regarding the EMCPA. The majority involve groups of five or more people in areas such as homes and parks, followed by non-compliant businesses, majority of which police say are actually in compliance.

Police are following up and taking an educational approach on these calls with 12 charges being laid so far.

The DRPS wants to remind residents that support services are available during this difficult time.

Visit the Region of Durham’s website for a full list of community services at https://www.durham.ca/en/regional-government/covid-19-community-resources.aspx

For the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 in Durham Region, visit www.durham.ca/NovelCoronavirus.