Regina crime statistics show mostly small increases in 2021
CBC
Reported crimes in Regina were slightly up last year compared to 2020, but homicide numbers reached their highest level in over a decade.
On Tuesday, the Board of Police Commissioners in Regina will review the 2021 crime statistics, which indicate that the pandemic continues to impact crime trends in the city.
"Regina faced another year of COVID-19 waves with vaccine advancements, periodic restrictions, and remaining uncertainties," said the Regina Police Service (RPS) in its report.
"The question of whether Regina's crime rate will return to pre-COVID levels or continue to evolve into a new environment remains unanswered."
Last year police counted 18,552 reported crimes in Regina, an increase of three per cent compared to 2020. The pre-pandemic crime number in 2019 was 24,650, according to police.
Crimes against people, crimes against property and other criminal code violations are included in these numbers. Traffic and drug violations are not.
Crimes against people, crimes against property and other criminal code offences all climbed by two per cent over the previous year, RPS said.
The year-end crime statistics cannot be compared with other Canadian cities, since different jurisdictions may use different methodologies or reporting criteria, police said.
Homicide numbers in Regina climbed in 2021 to their highest level in over a decade, police said.
Last year police investigated 15 homicides in the city, four more than in 2020.
The victims in 2021 ranged in age from two to 52. The majority of them were male, with four being female, according to the report.
Police said 11 of the homicides seemed to be connected with so-called risk factors such as illegal activity, drug trafficking and gang association.
While the number of homicides was up in 2021, the number of attempted murders dropped to 20 last year from 26 in 2020. Within the last nine years, 2019 had the most attempted murders, with officers investigating 39.
Overall, homicides and attempted murders have more than doubled since 2012, police said.