Crime stats reveal ‘concerning’ increase in homicides, violent crime

Homicides, stalking and robbery are just a few of the crimes trending upward in Saskatoon, according to the Saskatoon Police Service’s Quarterly Crime Activity and Trends.

Speaking on the Evan Bray show Tuesday, Darren Pringle, Saskatoon’s acting police chief, said the number of homicides in the city so far this year – 11 in total – is concerning.

“There’s no doubt that when you look at the seriousness scale, that grabs your attention because really, it’s a testament to how challenged people in this city are and how people may be feeling,” he said.

Listen to Evan Bray’s full interview with Pringle:

There were five homicides between April 1 and June 30. The latest happened in the Fairhaven neighbourhood.

But Pringle said it’s not only the number of homicides that’s alarming. Assaults and robberies have also increased in both the first and second quarters of the year. Assaults are up by 7.5 per cent, and the number of robberies has increased by 27.5 per cent.

The graph below shows how violent crimes have increased this year when compared to the first half of 2023.

Crime rates are closely tied to socioeconomic factors, according to Pringle.

“In many cases, it’s shoplifting where a weapon is produced, or there’s some violence involved in the shoplifting. And in many cases people are stealing food,” he said.

That’s an area where Pringle admitted police have “been really challenged.”

Saskatoon notorious for bear spray

Saskatoon has seen 140 bear spray incidents so far this year. In 2023, there were 256 for the entire year, and in 2021 there were 182.

“There was information that came to us that Cabela’s said that Saskatoon sells more bear spray than any other store in Canada,” he noted.

During 24 hours in late July, five bear spray incidents took place in Saskatoon. One of the victims was a seven-year-old boy. (650 CKOM/Stock File)

Pringle said there was room for improvement when it comes to addressing issues with bear spray, including potentially adding more regulations on its purchase.

“When I look at the business license bylaw for Saskatoon – for example scrap metal, pawn shops, sidewalk patios – some of those things are regulated, and I think there’s definitely room to look at providing some more tools that would help us with these issues,” he said.

In March, the Government of Saskatchewan created new regulations to restrict the possession of bear spray in public urban spaces. The regulations also will prohibit altering bear spray in order to hide or disguise the product’s identity. Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.

Property crime down in Saskatoon

Pringle said police are working to improve officer responses to calls for service in neighbourhoods like Confederation and Fairhaven, which have seen an increase in property crimes, violent crimes and homeless encampments.

“I would defer to what the residents are thinking, but I certainly know for our part, we have put quite a bit of effort into it,” he said.

There have been 4,537 property crimes in the second quarter of 2024, which is down 10 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Pringle said there are other efforts underway to bring down crime rates. Right now, there are 14 alternative response officers deployed throughout the city, patrols have been stepped up, and police are working with the city to “remediate” low- growth cover and trees in the area’s parks.

“It’s certainly top of mind for us as an area that we have to keep an eye on,” Pringle said.

Collisions have increased overall by 10 percent, with 2,043 property has been damaged in the first half of 2024.

The graph below shows the increase in fatal collisions from January to June for 2023 to 2024.

Although property crime was down, total calls for service have increased by four per cent compared to the first half of last year.