After a string of break ins and armed robberies, the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor believes a rise in drug use could be at the heart of the upswing.
It is now taking steps to address that issue.
During its Nov. 12 council meeting, the town pledged to arrange a meeting with the local RCMP to discuss the best way to proceed.
“For us, there’s always been some talk about drugs in our community as I am sure there are in other communities as well,” said Grand Falls-Windsor Mayor Barry Manuel. “We’ve received some complaints from about the issue, suggesting it is a significant issue in the community and something that needs to be addressed.”
Recent crimes attributed to drug use include a pair of convenience stores held up just hours apart, while six churches have been the victims of robbery in the last several months.
The mayor was quick to point out Grand Falls-Windsor isn’t the only community where this problem exists; drugs have become an issue in towns across the province.
“We’re trying to be responsive to citizens, but also proactive in trying to see how we can bring about some positive change in addressing the issue,” said Manuel.
Efforts could mean introducing an educational component to area schools and continuing to work with police, as well as setting up a forum where town groups can join for broader discussion.
Manuel would like to see an increased RCMP presence in his community. Right now, he said there aren't enough officers in the local detachment to handle existing issues. The Grand Falls-Windsor detachment coverage area extends from Buchans to Leading Tickles.
Bay Roberts experienced a similar shortfall but after years of lobbying it achieved a full complement of detachment officers in 2016.
Addressing the perceived drug issue doesn’t fall squarely on the shoulders of the town council.
“There may come a time when we may want to get people together to discuss, but everybody is independently now looking to do their part and with that, hopefully collectively we can make a difference,” said Manuel.
