The Nelson Police Department credits a drop in several key crime categories to proactive efforts by officers and the public.
Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 1, 2025, the department recorded 92 files involving drugs or alcohol, 151 thefts and 19 break‑and‑enters. That’s down from 406 drug‑ or alcohol‑related files, 283 thefts and 53 break‑and‑enters during the same period in 2024.
Const. Mat Harris said the decline reflects stronger community proactivity and improved morale within the detachment.
“We at NPD have been trying to make the public aware of all the crime that’s affecting Nelson and to take precautions, and they really have,” said Harris.
“Things such as locking car doors, balconies, locking up bicycles – these proactive measures have really decreased crime in the city.”
He added that morale has improved significantly.
“We were pretty slim there for a while and a little overworked, but we’ve gotten some new members and we all share the same culture and goals – to keep the city of Nelson safe.”
Increased staffing has also allowed police to increase regular patrols and check-ins at crime hotspots within the community.
Staffing
The department faced significant staffing shortages in early 2025, but Inspector Jason Jewkes said the situation has since resolved.
The force now has 21 members and expects to be fully staffed at 25 by mid‑2026.
“We’ve had two come back from injuries, one graduate is now a full‑fledged member, and we’ve hired four more,” said Jewkes.
“We’re in a much better position than we were over the past year.”
Focused enforcement
The 77.3 per cent drop in drug‑ and alcohol‑related files and the 46.6 per cent drop in thefts is largely attributed to an increased police presence, though Jewkes noted the department did recruit new members with experience in these areas.
“We’ve brought in some experienced officers who’ve dealt with these issues and mentored our current members,” he said.
“I also think our police presence has increase dramatically as well, we’re out there, doing patrols and we’re visible.”
However, both Harris and Jewkes once again praised residents for their efforts reporting suspicious activity.
“I really do credit the community for being such active participants,” said Harris.
“We can’t be everywhere, but with all the eyes and ears watching out for crime, we’ve been able to stop offences before they happen or catch offenders in the act.”
Jewkes said growing trust between police and residents has also played a big role in reducing crime.
“Since being here in January, I’ve seen the relationship between the community and the police department grow – and I think that’s where the major effect is on the crime stats dropping.”
Scams on the rise
The department has also stepped up communication around scams in recent months, which both officers say are becoming more common and more sophisticated.
“Scammers are getting more complex and savvy,” said Harris.
“We want to ensure that the community is aware of some of these methods just so that they can protect themselves accordingly. So we continue to let the community know of any types of new scams, we’ve got brochures at the front desk and continue to share updates.”
While the department does actively investigate every scam reported locally, Jewkes said these investigations are often difficult because the perpetrators usually operate outside Canada.
“Funds are quickly transferred out of the country and are usually untraceable,” he said.
“The amount of work involved is significant. It involves production orders, warrants, judicial authorizations and they’re not always localized in Canada. Some jurisdictions cooperate, some don’t.”
Despite the challenges, he urged residents to continue reporting suspected scams and to spread awareness by word of mouth.
“We definitely urge the community to continue to report if they’re affected and also just to use word of mouth. If they’re affected, tell your friends, tell your family, and let them know to be aware of this.”
Additionally, anyone who believes they’ve been targeted is urged to contact the Canadian Anti‑Fraud Centre.
As crime trends continue to move in a positive direction, Jewkes said maintaining strong ties with the public remains a priority.
“We really thank the community for being our eyes and ears. I think that’s a really important facet of how we can police and keep this place safe.”
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