The RCMP has determined that because of all the press releases they do and the number of media people they answer questions from is directly related to 'fear of crime' the public has. Thus, by limiting communication you decrease the fear. There report also says that people most fearful of crime were also the least likely to think that police were doing a good job.

Of course the RCMP understands these points but are we not to believe that the OPP would limit press releases or refuse to answer questions because they too understand these point? Are we not to believe there is a relationship between the complete lack of press releases of crime in Caledonia and the OPP desire to improve their public image.

B.C. RCMP wants fewer crime stories in the media

CBC - Monday, July 31, 2006

The RCMP in B.C. want to reduce the number of crime stories reported by the media in an effort to ease public fears.

An internal RCMP report obtained by the Vancouver Sun says the public has an irrational fear of crime because of the large number of crime stories that are reported.

According to the report, many of those stories are the result of RCMP news releases or comments from media relations officers.
 
As a result, the force is now reviewing its policy on how often information is released and how quickly officers respond to calls from reporters.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Tom Seaman told CBC Radio on Monday that the intent is to wait longer, so the officers can gather more facts before going public about a crime.
 
That way, he said, the public can be reassured police are on the job, dealing with the crime.

"And that's what we want to make sure is getting out, [and is] included in that story: that the police are aware of this or are doing this about it."

Seaman said the public is more fearful when it gets only part of a crime story.

The report also says that people most fearful of crime were also the least likely to think that police were doing a good job.