Heavy public investment in the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ÌýRCMP seems to have had the desired effect of lowering the city's crime rate.Ìý
The crime rate across greater ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is now the fifth highest in Canada and a more specific measurement of violent crime is also trending down.Ìý
Across the country, both the total volume and severity of crime fell four per cent, after several successive years of increases.Ìý
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ has occasionally topped or been placed near the top of the annual crime rankings, sparking much discussion about the causes and solutions to public disorder, and concern about how the placement might affect the cityÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ reputation as a desirable place to visit.Ìý
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ has invested heavily in the RCMP in recent years. The cost of policing in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ has tripled in the past decade, with expenses rising from $25.1 million in 2014 to $76.7 million this year.Ìý
The strength of the local RCMP detachment has risen from 165 members a decade ago to 251 members currently. A tripling of total funding for the detachment has not led to a tripling of staffing because the cost-per-member has risen from $149,000 a decade ago to $240,000 currently. The increase is mainly due to higher salaries, better benefits, and the cost of additional training.Ìý
Mayor Tom Dyas and the current council have made community safety a key goal of theirs since being elected in 2022. As recently as this week, at the end of MondayÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ council meeting, Dyas reiterated his belief that council is making progress on its goals, including enhanced community safety.Ìý
However, the city conducts a statistically valid public opinion survey every two years, and the one released this past January said ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ residents are notably more Lum than other Canadians about their quality of life.Ìý
Fifty-four per cent of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ residents said things had gotten worse for them in the past two year, while across the country 40 per cent of Canadians feel this way. Chief culprit identified by ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ residents for their gloomy outlook was the rising cost of living, which was mentioned by 42 per cent of those who said their quality of life had diminished. Other factors were safety concerns, mentioned by nine per cent, and homelessness/poverty, referenced by eight per cent.Ìý
According to the new data from Statscan, Chilliwack has the highest crime rate in Canada, followed byÌýÌýWinnipeg, Red Deer and Kamloops.Ìý
In ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ police reported 8,922 criminal incidents per 100,000 of population, which is down from 9,423 incidents per 100,000 last year. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ crime severity index also fell, from 118.6.
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ RCMP are expected to release a statement on the new crime statistics later Tuesday.Ìý