Charlottetown Police, P.E.I. RCMP see big drop in calls

There have been a lot fewer calls to Charlottetown police this spring, but they are not expecting the relative quiet to last.

A recent analysis by Charlottetown police found calls down about 23 per cent in March, April and May compared to last year.

Dep. Chief Sean Coombs saysthe trend is clearly related to COVID-19restrictions, with fewer reports of vehicle accidents and shoplifting.

"Less cars on the street," said Coombs. "Less businesses open. It's just a residual effect of the pandemic."

As restrictions start to ease for example, with more retail stores opening up this weekend, bringing more traffic and more opportunities for shoplifting Coombssaid he expects calls to return to the levels of last spring.

RCMP on P.E.I. have also seen a decline in the number of calls for service throughout thepandemic.

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