Guns, drugs drive Regina’s November crime stats: Police chief

Attempted murders are on the rise in Regina this year, more than double what they were in 2018, according to the city’s crime stats up to the end of November.

The Regina Police Service released the stats last week, and they show 37 attempted murders through 11 months this year in the city.

Last year’s count by the same time was 15. That increase represents 146.7 per cent.

“That’s continuing to be a challenge for us. Attempt murders are up in our community and it has a lot to do with the prevalence of (guns),” police Chief Evan Bray said.

“When we have assaults happening with a firearm vs. a fist, the corresponding charge looks a lot different. It’s usually an assault vs. an attempt murder, because a firearm when used can kill a person,” he said.

“This is unfortunately multiple times a week in our community where we are seeing assaults happening.”

Murders are also up in the same time period, sitting at eight this year, compared to 2018’s seven.

Sexual assaults are down to 174 (2019) from 182 (2018), as are overall assaults, which sit at 1,067 this year, compared to 1,204 last year.

Total crimes against property are up 8.6 per cent through the first 11 months of 2019, compared to the same time period in 2018: 14,602 vs. last year’s 13,448.

Bray said, as he often has this year, that crystal meth usage continues to be a problem in Regina.

“As you’ve heard us say before, it’s very accessible, is relatively inexpensive and is highly addictive as a drug. The high lasts for a long time and it causes people to engage in very irrational, high-risk behaviours. We’re seeing that time and time again in our community.”

The police chief said arresting and charging suspects with drug possession, particularly meth possession, is only “one part of (meeting the challenge).

“But if we have a suspect who has meth addictions, if we can find a way to get them healthy, I would suggest the high-risk behaviour stops almost immediately,” he said.

That means working with community partners and the health region to help people with their addictions, Bray said.

He has previously expressed support for a safe injection site in the city, examining the use of drug vending machines and other harm reduction strategies.