North Bay Police crime stats show fewer sexual assaults reported than a year ago.

There were 19 as of the end of April, compared to 28 to the end of April last year.

But deputy police chief Scott Tod isn’t saying there were fewer sexual offenses in the community.

“To say that sexual assaults are down across the community, I’m not comfortable saying that. I’m saying that the numbers reported to us are down in regards to an investigation on what we’re doing,” he says.

Tod says sexual assaults are only reported 10 per cent of the time and efforts are underway working with community groups in regards to a sexual asault review on investigative practices by police.

“That doesn’t involve law enforcement officials. It’s a group of individuals in the city who are looking at past sexual assault investigations. Primarily, to look at the unfounded aspect of sexual assault and the reports that are coming in,” Tod says.

Total criminal offenses are down by eight, year to year while calls are up by more than 1,200.

Drug charges are down by 30, but robberies and break and enters are up by three and 15 respectively.

Assaults are down by two while the number of cases cleared is up by 21.

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