10-year comparison of crime stats shows alarming trends

Ten years ago, crystal meth was almost non-existent in Regina and gun crimes were out of the ordinary.

Now, Police Chief Evan Bray says, officers deal with both on a daily basis.

Following a presentation to the Board of Police Commissioners on Thursday, Bray told reporters that where there are drugs, there are weapons — and guns are more prevalent than ever before.

“Very seldom do we bring someone into detention where we don’t either find they’re under the influence of drugs or even have a small quantity on them,” Bray said after a presentation to the board of police commission comparing crime statistics from 2019 to those from 2010.

While Bray said drugs are behind increases in both property and violent crimes in the city, the actual number of drug charges is dropping. He said that is because police are focusing on large-scale busts, trying to cut off the source of drug trafficking.

“A lot of our investigative efforts — as I mentioned in the meeting — have been focused on larger-scale investigations where we’re seizing very large quantities of drugs,” Bray said. “We think that really enhances community safety trying to get those drugs off the streets.”

Bray noted in recent years seizures of crystal meth have increased by 2,200 per cent compared to 2010. Yet cocaine and fentanyl also continue to be a problem and the supply of those drugs has also increased in the city.

He said the accessibility and price point of drugs like meth make it an affordable high but the highly addictive substance also leads to erratic and high-risk behaviour.

In large-scale drug busts at houses and for seizures in vehicles, Bray said officers almost always find guns and other weapons. He said guns are being used in far more crimes, often to intimidate people.

While there were nine murders in Regina last year, there were 37 attempted murder charges, which is a significant increase over the past 10 years. Assault charges have decreased slightly in the same time frame.

Bray attributes the increase in attempted murder charges to the higher prevalence of guns because situations that may have been assaults in the past are now even more dangerous.

“In days gone by, most fights were physical. Now if someone’s got a firearm and they’re going to pull it out, it greatly changes the dynamics. It escalates the situation and the resulting charges as well,” Bray said.

The police chief said the issues of drugs, guns and gangs driving crime rates up in Regina are on par with trends across Western Canada.

In 2019, Regina police laid charges in nine out of nine murder cases. The 10-year average clearance rate for murders in the city sits at 87 per cent, with charges laid in 73 out of 84 murders.

Bray said that’s above average for most police forces across the country, which are closer to a 66 per cent average solve rate. He also noted the length of complex investigations, with recent examples of charges being laid a year or two after a death.

Regina police have also tracked a notable increase in reports of sexual assaults in the past 10 years.

Property crimes are also on the rise with a 7.4 per cent increase between 2018 and 2019 and a 35.1 per cent rise compared to 2010.

The number of stolen vehicles dropped by 10 per cent year over year but still showed a 25 per cent increase over 10 years.

Overall thefts have risen 54 per cent, but a vast majority of those are linked to unlocked vehicles with keys left inside. Bray said most of those are crimes of opportunity which people can help prevent by paying attention and locking doors.

Identity theft and fraud are also showing a significant spike of 54 per cent in 2019 compared to the year before. There were only 34 incidents of identity theft or fraud reported in 2010 compared to 237 last year.