Regina sees 20 per cent crime drop, COVID-19 likely playing a role

Regina is seeing a decrease in crime in 2020, and the ongoing global pandemic may be playing a role in that.

The crime stats report was filed to the board of police commissioners on Thursday and it showed a 19.6 per cent decrease in crime for the first half of 2020. Back in 2019, the first half of the year say an 11.6 per cent increase.

The report said the COVID-19 pandemic has likely had an impact on some crime trends in the city.

There was a 30.4 per cent decrease in crimes against property in 2020, with 7,479 instances compared to 5,203 in 2019.

Crimes against a person also saw a slight decrease, down to 1,416 cases in 2020 compared to 1,508 in 2019.

Thefts have also seen a large decrease in 2020 so far. There were 36.4 per cent fewer occurrences of theft in 2020 than in 2019 Theft is also down 9.4 per cent than at this time in 2011.

There were 48.4 per cent fewer motor vehicle thefts in 2020 so far, down from 789 to 407 during the same time period in 2019.

Break and enters saw a 15.9 per cent decrease in 2020, but were 19.8 per cent more than compared to 2011 rates.

The number of murders in the city has grown, increasing from six to eight, while the number of attempted murders is down 56 per cent.

Sexual assault reports were down to 73 compared to 102 in 2019 but there was a rise in the number of other sex crimes being reported jumping to 44 from 26 in 2019.

This crime category includes offences like sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, luring a child via a computer and voyeurism.

While there were fewer kidnappings and forcible confinement reports in 2020 than the previous year, the nine reported were higher than the 10-year average.

Arson was one of the few categories on the rise, with 106 reports so far. Back in 2019, there were 69 reports over the same time period.

Drivers have also been receiving fewer traffic tickets so far, with 6,959 being handed out, a 34.7 per cent decrease.