'Things are getting better': Crime severity dropping in inner-city Edmonton, officials say

Edmonton's inner city is becoming a safer place to be thanks to a $15-million investment and a coordinated effort, according to officials who provided an update Thursday.

Edmonton's inner city is becoming a safer place to be thanks to a $15-million investment and a coordinated effort, according to officials who provided an update Thursday.

Edmonton launched community safety teams in Chinatown, downtown and Kingsway last October and funded a new Healthy Streets Operations Centre pilot starting in January.

Average total crime severity in the area went from 114.7 last November to 85.8 in March.

Onsite paramedics have also helped 170 people, reducing ambulance trips to the area by 113, the city said.

"We're hearing from community members that things are getting better. Each day, they feel safer," Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said.

"And I know there's much, much more that needs to be done to achieve a collective goal of safer communities for all. Change will take time and I'm confident that with all the partners continuing to come together to the table, we are headed in the right direction."

The effort to improve safety in the area came after two men were beaten to death in Chinatown last May.