Lethbridge crime on the decline, according to annual Statistics Canada report
Since 2019, Lethbridge has had the highest rate of severe crime of any Canadian city but 2022 numbers released by Statistics Canada tell a new tale.
The city dropped from first to third on Statistics Canada's annual Crime Severity Index report, or CSI.
It calculates the volume and seriousness of crimes in a community.
The decline includes an eight per cent decrease in crime severity and a five per cent drop in crime rate in 2022.
"As the crime and CSI is increasing across the country and in the province, we are showing a downward trend in both those categories, which is significant," said Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh.
Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh
In 2021, the city sat at a CSI of 129.5, compared to 2022's 119.
Comparatively, the national CSI is up four per cent while Alberta's rose by two per cent.
Police and the city say the drop in numbers is due to a lot of effort and hard work on both sides.
Over the past four years, Lethbridge's CSI has dropped by almost 16 per cent.
"We still have a lot of work to do, but I'm very proud to call this community my home as we are moving toward a good direction," Mehdizadeh told media on Thursday.
"There's so much more we can do but we will continue to do what we can, advocate for the resources we need, stay in touch with our police commission and chief to make sure that the resources that they need are available," added Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen.
Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen
The report only looks at cities with a municipal police force.
That leaves out some large communities such as Red Deer and Grand Prairie, which are policed by the RCMP.
"When you include 10,000 plus, we are ranked number 36," Mehdizadeh said.
"So we just go way down because there are a lot of communities that could be 1,000 people, less than 10,000, but they are not factored in this group."
The city did see a slight rise in the number of violent crimes, increasing by 1.4 per cent.
The majority of crimes in the city are opportunity-driven but even those have begun going down.
Lethbridge dropped from first to third on Statistics Canada's annual Crime Severity Index report, or CSI.
Police note residents' continued efforts.
"I just want to thank our citizens for all of the work they're doing," said Mehdizadeh.
Mehdizadeh says the plan is to add at least 10 new officers to the force within the next year and the hope is the increased presence will help drive down the CSI even further for 2023.
To view the Statistics Canada Crime Severity Index report, you can visit their website.
Lethbridge dropped from first to third on Statistics Canada's annual Crime Severity Index report, or CSI.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Speaker kicks Poilievre out of Commons over unparliamentary comments
Speaker Greg Fergus kicked Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre out of the House of Commons during question period today.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation is the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.