Youth crime calls are up in Chatham-Kent, but the number of charges has decreased.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) reported that it responded to 2,809 calls for youth-related incidents last year, an increase of 32.6 per cent from 2023 and a 42.4 per cent rise from 2022. However, youth charges have decreased in 2024 with 76 youth charged compared to 111 in 2023.
"This decline reflects officers' commitment to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which encourages alternatives to criminal charges when appropriate," wrote CKPS lnspector Mike Thompson in his year end Community Patrol Report. "The youth officer is implementing restorative and rehabilitative approaches through frontline interactions."
According to CKPS, the average age of a youth involved with police has also lowered from 14.5 years old in 2023 to 14.3 years old last year.
Police said they also investigated a break and enter and mischief involving two 9-year-olds and an arson involving suspects all under the age of 12.
"Proactively targeting a younger demographic of youth within our school system must remain a priority when strategizing methods to mitigate a lowering in the age of youth involved in criminal activity," the report stated.
The top incidents involving youth reported by Chatham-Kent police in 2024 that resulted in charges include assault, threats, failing to comply with release orders, mischief, assault with a weapon, and possession of a dangerous weapon.
The CKPS said it continues to collaborate with community partners to ensure that youth involved in low-level criminal behavior have opportunities to learn from their mistakes through reciprocal, restorative measures.
Police noted that 2024 saw 18 diverted or community base referrals (same as 2023) while 229 area youth dealt with by police were given formal cautions or warnings instead of punishment and discipline.
Male youth interactions with police are still more prevalent than female youth interactions, although female interactions with police are up by 3.3 per cent from 2023 to 32.9 per cent, according to the year end report.
lnspector Thompson said while youth crime calls continue to trend upward, the slower growth rate suggests that community policing efforts are making a positive impact.
Thompson noted it takes a collaborative community approach, including social services, to face the challenges of fostering our youth.
"Addressing youth-related challenges requires a collaborative approach across social services. CKPS recognizes this need and is committed to working with community stakeholders and engage in strategic planning to strengthen partnerships and allocate resources to reduce youth-related police interactions," wrote Thompson. "lt is dually important to recognize that the challenges faced by the community of Chatham-Kent in fostering our youth takes the entirety of our social services working together to have positive outcomes."
Thompson said the CKPS Youth Officer is the main liaison for CK schools and works closely with educators to address complex youth and community issues.
They also share critical information with the school boards to ensure school safety and to keep youth in school and out of the judicial system.
CKPS said they have shared important data with the municipality and a local group that supports youth over the past year to enhance the community's collective knowledge and improve services for local youth.
Thompson noted non-criminal incidents make up the majority of the youth related calls for service and do not result in criminal charges, but they do play a crucial role in building rapport and relationships with younger citizens.
He said the calls for family disputes and mental health issues often require significant time and care.
"Officers frequently engage with youth during moments of trauma and vulnerability, working to provide support and safety rather than enforcement. While these incidents do not lead to charges, they are complex and challenging for both officers and the youth involved," the Inspector added.
CKPS also reported 105 missing persons last year, a decrease when compared to 137 in 2023.
Habitual youth runaways have inflated the 2024 statistics because they can commonly be reported missing several times a month.