Saskatoon has 6th highest crime severity score among major Canadian cities
Saskatoon saw no change in its Crime Severity Index score last year after a 10 per cent drop in 2020.
The city's score of 106 is the sixth highest among communities with at least 100,000 people. Regina came in fifth highest with a score of 111.
The index measures the volume and severity of police-reported crime in Canada and is released annually by Statistics Canada. The national average was 74.
In an email to CTV News, Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) spokesperson Brad Jennings said Saskatoon saw an increase in the number of violent crimes, criminal code violations for guns and drugs, sexual violations against children, theft over $5,000 (non-motor vehicle) and robbery.
Homicides and property crimes were down.
And while Statistics Canada noted an increase in hate crimes, Jennings said it is likely due to better tracking and reporting from police services across Canada.
"There could be an increase in incidents themselves, but better data tracking could be responsible for the increase in numbers we are seeing. As an example, the SPS recently established a hate crimes unit and online tool to report hate/bias motivated crimes."
PRINCE ALBERT RANKS HIGH
In Prince Albert, the police service said in a news release that the city ranks fourth among communities with a core population of over 10,000 people — but that the ranking needs context.
The "retail population" of Prince Albert, which includes the number of people who come for services, medical appointments, or entertainment, is close to 190,000 people and larger than census statistics, Prince Albert Police Service said in a news release.
“We continue to track crime trends on a daily basis and our focus remains on proactive engagement and initiatives that support prevention and public safety,” Chief Jonathan Bergen said.
“We know we are not alone in working to address the challenges our community is facing, and we continue to work with governments at all levels and our community to engage on solutions and initiatives that support the health and safety of all residents.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."