West Shore RCMP Reports Rise in Mental Health and Drug Calls

The West Shore RCMP recorded an increase in overall service calls during the first half of 2025, with a total of 12,886 files opened, marking a 3.17 percent increase from 12,447 in the same period last year. Several categories of incidents showed notable changes, particularly in mental health and drug-related cases.

In specific terms, shoplifting incidents surged by 25.7 percent, while total drug offences rose significantly by 33.3 percent. Additionally, traffic warnings increased by 19.7 percent. Conversely, the number of impaired driving charges fell by 22 percent, with total tickets issued decreasing by 16.6 percent.

Regional Breakdown of Service Calls

Langford, which is the busiest area in the West Shore jurisdiction, reported 7,290 calls for service in the first half of 2025, a slight increase of 3.3 percent from 7,054 last year. Notably, drug-related incidents in Langford escalated, with total drug offences rising from 20 to 37 and drug possession cases increasing from 5 to 22.

Colwood experienced one of the most significant increases in mental health-related files, which rose from 167 in early 2024 to 211 in 2025. Overall calls in Colwood rose by 4.4 percent, moving from 2,577 to 2,688.

In contrast, View Royal saw a slight decrease in calls, with a 2 percent drop to 1,609, whereas Metchosin reported an increase of 11.1 percent, climbing from 433 to 481. Highlands recorded a substantial rise of 25 percent, jumping from 136 to 170 calls. Calls on Songhees Nation lands decreased by 2.2 percent, while Esquimalt Nation saw a decline of 11.4 percent, with 31 calls compared to 35 last year.

Focus on Mental Health and Impaired Driving

During the first half of 2025, there were 92 impaired driving charges across the West Shore, down 22 percent from the previous year. West Shore RCMP Inspector Stephen Rose highlighted the ongoing concern regarding impaired driving. “One would think in 2025, we wouldn’t necessarily need to continue to educate people about driving while impaired,” Rose stated at a Metchosin council meeting on October 6. He emphasized the importance of advocating for alternatives to impaired driving, such as making arrangements for safe transportation.

Mental health-related files across the West Shore saw a rise of 7.3 percent, increasing from 956 to 1,026. Inspector Rose attributed this increase to the effectiveness of the Mobile Integrated Crisis Response Teams, which include three police officers and two nurses trained in mental health care. “The value of that team is how they respond to those people in crisis,” he noted. The presence of a nurse allows for a more comprehensive approach, utilizing access to medical records to provide tailored support in crisis situations.

The data reflects a continuing trend in the West Shore region regarding both mental health and drug-related incidents, raising the need for ongoing community support and intervention strategies.