Regina sees a rise in crime this month, compared to April 2022
The Regina Police Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, with monthly crime statistics per district being at the forefront.
According to police, crime rates are on the rise in Regina from April of last year, which can be seen across the city.
Though the central district has significantly less people than the north and south areas, they all averaged around the same number of reports.
“There’s a magnification of some of the social issues our city faces in the central division and we know there is a direct correlation between social issues like mental health, addictions, those types of things, and police calls for service,” said Regina Police Chief Evan Bray.
“So knowing that that’s concentrated in the central part of the city in the central district really equates to why we experience so much in that regard in that area.”
These numbers are based upon the calls Regina Police Service (RPS) receive in regards to incidents in any given area, ranging from every area of crime.
The north, south, and central districts all reported a rise in crimes against the person by 15.9 per cent in April 2023 vs April 2022.
In addition, crimes against property were up 12.4 per cent with both resulting in a combined year-to-date increase of 13.1 per cent versus 2022.
There were 395 more reports of property crime than in 2022; 224 more reports of theft under $5,000 and 213 more reports of mischief and wilful damage, which saw a 42.7 per cent increase from last year.
Luckily, there was a decrease in auto thefts, which was down 6.3 per cent.
However, as the weather gets warmer, police warn residents to take extra precautions, like ensuring garages are closed, or looking out for neighbours houses when they are away.
Bray said that the implementation of the aerial support unit is significant in the success of the RPS.
“The plane has been an outstanding addition to our police service; it’s really given us an efficiency on how we're able to handle in progress crimes.”
He added that in progress calls have seen 100 per cent success in arrests when the plane is in the air because the ground units can back off while the plane is still tracking the person.
“It’s been very successful but it’s also saved our ground units hours and hours of investigative follow up that normally we would have to do, but don’t because the plane is able to identify the person and we’re able to make an arrest that same day, usually within minutes of the incident happening.”
According to the data, since Jan. 1 2023, the unit has recovered 16 stolen vehicles, made 121 arrests, and laid 262 charges.
It has also saved 56 trips for the ground unit.
As for traffic ticketing, specifically distracted driving, the addition of the motorcycles has given RPS a significant increase. Bray attributes that to the ability for motorcycles to weave in and out of traffic in order to catch up with perpetrators as well as them being less discernible.
“They have a good vantage point to see in the windows of vehicles […] and I think people don’t see motorcycles in a rear-view mirror and think of them as being police.”
“When people see a police car, I guarantee when you see a police car, you put your phone down.”
So far this year, there have been 5,088 tickets issued, 462 of those cell phone charges and warnings.
In 2022, there were less than half of those to date.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.