Duncan sees spike in crime in some neighbourhoods, decrease in others

Leaders in Duncan and North Cowichan, B.C., have been reviewing the RCMP's latest report on calls for service in the region.

Leaders in Duncan and North Cowichan, B.C., have been reviewing the RCMP's latest report on calls for service in the region.

Overall, there was a slight uptick in calls last year, roughly a two per cent increase in 2022 compared to the year before.

However, specific neighbourhoods in the region saw dramatically different increases and decreases in calls, according to RCMP data.

In one neighbourhood, called the TCH Corridor, calls decreased by 12 per cent.

William Arnold, owner of Experience Cycling in Duncan, said he was once frustrated with the state of the TCH Corridor neighbourhood.

"We used to have a lot of verbal confrontations," he said.

But then the business owner reframed his approach, along with others in the neighbourhood. That change has led to positive results today.