Some residents concerned after police report shows crime is up in downtown Regina

Crime is up significantly in downtown Regina this year according to new stats from the Regina Police Service (RPS).

According to an RPS file, there’s been an uptick in calls for service downtown compared to the last two years.

Calls are up for January to June in 2023 compared to the same time spans for 2021 and 2022.

The file cited COVID-19 restrictions as a possible reason for the lower amount of calls received in 2021 — explaining that the restrictions resulted in fewer people working downtown.

“Crime has affected all of us,” said Keith McBride, an equipment operator for demolition company Vos Industries. McBride is doing work at a commercial business on Victoria Avenue and said that he and his co-workers have seen numerous instances of crime while on the job.

“We as a construction company have had like $500,000 to $600,000 in damages to A/C units and people cutting out rare, scarce materials and scarce metals and trying to recycle those. Plus thefts (and) break-ins,” McBride said.

“With the (rising) cost of everything, a lot more people are homeless, a lot more people have fallen into poverty, drug addiction, etcetera but I’d say it’s definitely fluctuated throughout the city within the last couple of years for sure.”

The file describes the downtown areas as “Saskatchewan Drive to Victoria Avenue, spanning from Albert Street to Broad Street.”

However, the file also said that the vast majority of calls are not criminal in nature.

Jessi Arnason, who lives downtown said that he generally feels safe when walking through the area.

“I enjoy walking through the park, enjoying the birds,” Arnason said.

However, Arnason also said that he’s noticed more crime this year.

Geramie Mah who spends a lot of time downtown said he noticed the same thing.

Mah said that crime is linked to issues of poverty and addiction.

“You’re a product of your environment,” Mah said. “When you’re taught that’s the way to do it, that’s the way to do it and no one knows any different. It’s always going to be like that until you actually help at the root of the problems.”

The file said that RPS has received nine calls for service a day for 2023, up from four calls a day in 2021 and five calls a day in 2022.

The file also included specific numbers for the “city hall area” which it defined as: “Saskatchewan Drive to Victoria Avenue, spanning from Albert Street to Lorne Street.”

The file said there was a 172 per cent increase from 2022-2023, from January to June, and a 264 per cent increase from 2021-2023, from January to June.

RPS said it has increased police presence downtown as a part of its proactive response.