The results presented in the 2023 Crime Severity Index report released by Statistics Canada yesterday display both some promising news and a challenge that lies before Saskatoon.

Police Chief Cam McBride says “The good news is, with regard to the ranking as compared to other areas within Canada, the numbers form 2022 places Saskatoon at number six. That’s sixth from the top, from the highest. In 2023, that number fell to eight, to eighth place.”

On the other hand, violent crime in Saskatoon rose 7 per cent in 2023, with many of the crimes committed using weapons. McBride admits that trend has continued into 2024, with a 10 per cent increase in violent crime in just the first two quarters.

McBride says although the CSI report is a useful tool, it is far more important to understand what’s happening within our city than seeing how we compare with other cities across Canada.

The Chief says although the city’s ranking when it comes to crime severity among other Canadian cities is near the top, citizens do not need to be afraid.

“When you look at it very carefully in terms of number of incidents in relation to the population, the change is not statistically very significant. The community should not look at crime severity and say, ‘we’ve trended in the wrong direction, therefor I need to be afraid.’ That is not the case.”

He says there are hotspots for crime in Saskatoon, and they happen to be the areas where rates of poverty, homelessness, people in crisis, and those with addictions and mental health issues are densely populated.

Moving forward, the Chief hopes to focus efforts on warrant enforcement, building trust with community members, and developing Saskatoon’s public spaces to eliminate the potential for crimes to take place. This might include better lighting, better sightlines, or increased community patrols.