SASKATCHEWAN - Crime, at least by the looks of the reported numbers, appears to be on the rise in Saskatchewan.
That's coming from the Saskatchewan RCMP, who've released an official report detailing crime statistics and trends in the province.
Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore included an address of her own in the report, which shared a number of stats, including the fact that the RCMP polices 46% of the province's population, but they're responding to and investigating 60% of the total Criminal Code violations in Saskatchewan.
In addition, Blackmore's address shared the following stats in the last ten years in Saskatchewan:
The number of homicide victims increased by 275%;
The number of violent firearm offences increased by 271%;
The number of assaults on our RCMP officers increased by 79%; and
The number of assault offences increased by 33%.
With the uptick in crime comes a desire to see a larger police presence in the province. To that end, Blackmore says that the provincial government has committed to funding the Saskatchewan RCMP's full complement of 1,047 officers, which will help ensure that resources are in place to help keep communities safe.
An overview of the Saskatchewan RCMP provided the following information:
The Saskatchewan RCMP is responsible for policing 99.9% of the total area and 46% of the total population of Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan RCMP is comprised of three districts: North, Central and South.
In 2023, 60% of the total Criminal Code violations were in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction, as well as 65% of the total violent crime. Although the Saskatchewan RCMP police under half of the Saskatchewan population, almost two thirds of the Criminal Code violations in this province were responded to and investigated by RCMP officers.
In Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction, crime rates have remained high and are continuing to increase. An overall provincial downward trend in crime rate has been noted – however, this is the result of crime rates decreasing for other Saskatchewan police services (such as Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service, Moose Jaw Police Service).
Overall, pertaining to only the Saskatchewan RCMP's data, the crime rate in Saskatchewan in 2023 showed high numbers, with 17,577 incidents reported by the RCMP versus 10,482 reported by other Saskatchewan police.
The province's RCMP Divisional Operational Communications Centre (DOCC) provided records of call volumes, which saw a jump of over 100,000 calls between 2015 and 2023; a total of 252,526 calls in 2015, while there were 352,663 total calls in 2023.
Finally, the report shows an upward climb in violent crime over the last decade. Violent crime offences include assault, harassment or uttering threats, sexual assault or other sexual offences, firearms, robbery, forcible confinement, kidnapping, attempted murder, and homicide.
Saskatchewan RCMP data indicates that not only are there more victims of violent crime, but the victims appear to be experiencing more severe forms of violence.
In 2023, assault offences accounted for 62% and harassment or uttering threats offences accounted for 25% in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.
2023 – Saskatchewan RCMP district breakdown:
North District accounted for 56% of the total violent crime reported;
Central District accounted for 23% of the total violent crime reported; and
South District accounted for 21% of the total violent crime reported.
10-year trend (2014 to 2023) – Saskatchewan RCMP district breakdown:
Saskatchewan RCMP (overall) reports of violent crime offences have increased 46% in the last 10 years:
North District reports of violent crime offences have increased 51% in the last 10 years;
Central District reports of violent crime offences have increased 45% in the last 10 years; and
South District reports of violent crime offences have increased 34% in the last 10 years.
