2 days ago
Regina police official pleased with city's improved 2024 crime stats
The amount of crime and the severity of it in Regina decreased in 2024, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
Regina's crime severity index fell by 11 per cent in 2024. That stat measures the number of crimes reported by police per 100,000 people, combined with a weighted scale of how severe the crimes were.
Regina now ranks 11th in the country for the crime severity index, compared to ninth a year ago.
Regina ranked ninth for its crime rate in 2024, which decreased by seven per cent over the previous year.
The city has consistently ranked above the national average for crime severity.
"I can recall the days when Regina was No. 1 for crime severity and crime rate," said Regina Police Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies.
"When we're not in the top five, that makes me happy," said Davies. "But it doesn't mean that we still don't have work to do because it would be great not to be in the top 20."
Potential reasons behind decrease
Davies said the city benefited from a national downward trend in crime, but that officers having higher visibility in the community was one reason for Regina's crime decrease.
"We really value meeting with our stakeholders, meeting with communities so that we can discuss issues and work collaboratively together," said Davies.
Overall, Davies said that most of the Canadian cities with high levels of crime are in Western Canada.
In the Prairies, there are long-standing issues affecting marginalized and vulnerable people, which can lead to higher incarceration rates, said Davies.
So far in 2025, Davies said Regina crime rates are down in all areas, except for arson, which she called "a pressure point."
"For the most part, we are trending in a good direction right now," said Davies.
