Crime severity up in Regina, but ranking among cities is lower

The crime severity index in Regina has gone up, but the city’s ranking among metro areas has gone down, according to the national Crime Severity Index.

Statistics Canada released the numbers for 2023 for across Canada this week, which placed put the Regina Census Metropolitan Area at a Crime Severity Index number of 112, up one per cent from the previous year. The crime rate for the metro area was 7,988 offences per 100,000 people, which was also up by three per cent.

But despite the increases, Regina dropped in the crime ranking to ninth overall among 41 metro areas in Canada, compared to fifth last year. Part of the reason for that was because the crime rates and crime severity saw a nationwide increase.

Regina Deputy Police Chief Trent Stevely said he was encouraged by the numbers, but acknowledged there is still work to do.

“We are pleased that these figures reflect some of the lowest crime rankings in recent years,” Stevely said.

“Both our crime rate and crime severity index remain higher than the national average, but not the highest in the country as had once been the case for Regina. This progress is encouraging, as our police service and the community remain committed to addressing any ongoing public safety issues affecting our city.”

Stevely added that the slight rise in the national and local crime rates “reminds us that we need to continually reassess our enforcement strategies and work closely with our community partners to prevent and reduce crime. We will continue to quickly adapt and respond to national and local crime trends.”

Stevely said the police service is constantly making assessments to determine where best to place resources around the city, and will continue to do so.

The Regina Census Metropolitan Area includes Regina, as well as the communities of White City, Pilot Butte, Balgonie, Lumsden, Regina Beach, Pense and Belle Plaine. It also covers more than one police jurisdiction, with the Regina Police Service covering the area within the city while RCMP detachments in White Butte and Lumsden cover the surrounding rural areas.

Here are some of the highlights that Stevely cited from the StatsCan report:

The crime rate increased by three per cent and the CSI by two per cent nationwide.

Non-violent contributors to the national increases were child pornography (up 53 per cent), fraud (up 12 per cent), and shoplifting $5000 or under (up 18 per cent). The Regina Police Service noted it has special units dedicated to responding to those crimes.

Violent crimes contributing to the national increase included extortion (up 35 per cent), robbery (up four per cent) and assault with a weapon or assault causing bodily harm (up seven per cent).

Police said hate crimes rose sharply across Canada for the third time in four years, but Regina had no confirmed hate crimes reported in 2023.