Local business groups have launched their 2024 edition of their annual “Impacts” survey, which is seeking to quantify the costs and effects of crime on businesses.

“Our goal is to really understand what those impacts are, so we can take this information as a community and advocate for changes to criminal justice systems, mental health supports. All those kinds of things that help us to manage community interface issues, and really create a better community for all of us,” said Jeremy Heighton, Executive Director of the North Shore Business Improvement Association.

He says this year’s goal is to try to find out just how much crime, vandalism and disruption goes unreported.

“One of the challenges we run into is quite often when [Kamloops RCMP] Superintendent [Jeff] Pelley’s in front of council, for example, he’ll present crime stats, which say, crime in the city is down 14 percent, or down 16 percent. But what he’s talking about is reported crime,” said Heighton.

Heighton suggests there’s a level of apathy and frustration within the business community when it comes to smaller-scale crimes.

“People are frustrated. They don’t have confidence in prosecution. They don’t have confidence that offender will be held,” argued Heighton.  “If you’re going to lose a 25 or 30 dollar product out of the front of your store, is it really worth calling the RCMP, who may or may not be able to show up for hours at a time, and may or may not be able to charge.”

As well as the NSBIA, the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association, Tk’emlups and the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce will be sending links to the survey to members.

The survey will close September 20th.