Regina crime increased 6.6% in 2016

Regina crime statistics for 2016 are in and the news isn't good.

There were 20,114 crimes reported to police in 2016, which is 6.6 per cent more than the previous year.

The increase in total crime compared to 2015 was driven primarily by increases in property crime.

Motor vehicle thefts were up 17.2 per cent,  for instance.

There were also double digit increases for theft (up 14 per cent), break and enter (14 per cent) and robbery (24.7 per cent).

Crimes against people were up, too.

While there were seven homicides in 2016, the same as 2015, there was a 154 per cent increase in attempted murders — 33 in 2016, compared to 13 the year before.

Guns and drugs

Chief of Police Evan Bray says the heightened rates of violent crime can be attributed to two things — guns and drugs.

"One person who is charged with a drug offence can quite often be guilty of 10 crimes per night and some of them very aggressive and violent crimes in an effort to continue to sustain their habit," said Bray.

Specifically crystal meth has been attributed to greater numbers of violent crime and theft. Bray said treatment of addiction is key to make meaningful strides in lowering crime rates.  

"I think, if we can somehow find a way to dig into the root cause and try to provide some support to these people who are addicted, and get them off this addiction cycle, it'll go great lengths in trying to reduce our overall rate."

Increase in sexual assaults

There were 145 sexual assaults reported last year, up from 125 in 2015.

Assaults were down slightly — 1.5 per cent.

While crime is up generally, the silver lining, according to a report that went before the Regina board of police commissioners Wednesday, is the comparison to a decade ago. Compared to 2007, there were 12.1 per cent fewer crimes reported, the report says.

Decrease in speed camera tickets

Also, there was 42 per cent decrease in tickets issued by way of speed camera. In 2015 there were 27,523 tickets issues and only 15,861 last year.

Bray said this decrease is not due to a statistical anomaly or change in procedure, he says drivers in Regina are just slowing down.