Kamloops Businesses Grapple with Crime and Financial Losses

The results of the 2024 Impacts Survey have highlighted crime, financial losses, and the inadequacy of response services as pressing challenges for businesses in the Kamloops area. The survey, orchestrated by the three Business Improvement Associations alongside the Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce, gathered responses from 201 businesses within the community.

Jeremy Heighton, Executive Director of the North Shore Business Improvement Association, emphasized the vital role local businesses play in sustaining the Kamloops economy and the urgent need for effective solutions to counter crime and social disruption. “The costs continue to be high,” Heighton stated, citing a prevalent “catch and release” system as a contributor to ongoing issues within the province.

The survey, which canvassed business experiences from 2018 to 2022, reported substantial financial losses. In the previous year, losses amounted to approximately $800,000, escalating to $1.5 million in 2024, with nearly $2 million in losses anticipated when accounting for larger projects. Heighton noted, “66% have been victims of crime, vandalism, or social disruption yet chose not to report these incidents.”

This underreporting contributes to a situation perceived as “largely out of control,” with a significant portion of stakeholders expressing growing concerns about business viability in Kamloops. “We’re hearing anecdotal comments about business owners contemplating relocation due to these stresses,” explained Heighton, pointing to the emergence of “Fear and Stress” as a new category ranked fifth among top concerns in the survey.

The survey detailed that consumer confidence and business operations are severely impacted as crime rates continue to rise for the third consecutive year. Issues such as littering, open drug use, and vandalism persist, alongside public safety concerns, which affect psychological health and profit margins. Businesses spent nearly $1 million on crime prevention measures in 2024 alone, a steep rise from previous years.

Dissatisfaction with response services was evident, as respondents cited legal constraints and slow responses as major issues. “Questionable prosecution and lack of resolution are major barriers,” said business owners in the survey, with 65% expressing dissatisfaction with legal processes and 59% lamenting unresolved issues.

The business community is calling for comprehensive governmental intervention, including a four-pillar healthcare strategy, mental health reforms, and revised criminal justice practices, particularly regarding bail provisions. The call for change stresses the need for a robust system to address these persistent challenges effectively.