Prince Albert police respond to a call in the city's midtown area. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
Crime

Prince Albert’s crime severity index takes deep dive

Jul 22, 2025 | 11:41 AM

After three consecutive years of increases, Prince Albert’s crime severity index dropped over 19 per cent from 2023 to 2024.

According to Statistics Canada, there was a decrease in both violent and non-violent crimes.

“The reduction in Prince Albert’s Crime Severity Index is an encouraging development and a positive signal for our community. While many factors can influence these numbers, we are cautiously optimistic that the collective focus on targeted enforcement, internal restructuring, and increased presence in key areas is having a meaningful impact. The Prince Albert Police Service remains committed to evidence-based policing, ongoing community collaboration, and adapting our strategies to meet the evolving needs of public safety,” Chief of Police Patrick Nogier said.

Prince Albert’s Crime Severity Index reflects a significant decrease compared to the Canadian CSI which decreased four per cent in 2024.

The overall CSI for the province of Saskatchewan is down five per cent, while violent crime is down three per cent and non-violent crime is down six per cent.

Overall, Prince Albert’s Crime Severity Index saw one of the largest decreases in Saskatchewan.

(Prince Albert Police Service)

According to a statement provided by the Prince Albert Police Service, members have been consistent in their efforts to reduce crime in the city, from frontline patrol to their valuable specialized units.

In 2024, members of the Prince Albert Police Service Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) unit were re-assigned to focus on traffic safety within the city.

As a result, more tickets were issued in 2024 than in the two years prior. However, the number of tickets remains significantly lower than in 2020 and 2021. This reassignment also resulted in more police presence on the streets of Prince Albert. Several proactive policing initiatives were also launched in 2024. In March, the Saskatoon Police Service Air Support Unit (ASU) assisted PA Police with a two-day police operation in Prince Albert targeting vehicles evading police.

In 2024, there were nearly 200 less dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and evading police incidents than the year prior.

The 2024-26 Strategic Plan was announced which outlined four main priorities for the service, public safety, celebrating culture, community connections, and leadership. These four priorities contain a number of goals that help guide the police service while working towards a common goal. One of those many goals is increasing internal efficiencies in how the organization operates and in 2024, multiple areas of the service were restructured to increase police presence and patrol availability.

The Alternative Call Response Unit (ACR) is a good example and demonstrates the enhanced way of managing select calls for service in order to ensure patrol units are available for high priority calls. The Crime Reduction Team (CRT) is also making a positive impact through the seizure of illicit substances and firearms from Prince Albert streets.

(Prince Albert Police Service)

The statement from the police service also noted the removal of 130 illegal firearms from the community in 2024.

While this number is down from 2023, it is up significantly from the years prior.

CRT also continued its persistent effort against drug trafficking in the community. An additional 3,457 grams of cocaine, 1,585 grams of methamphetamine and 760 grams of crack cocaine were removed from our city.

Break and enters, vehicle thefts, thefts under $5,000, shoplifting and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle or evading police are examples of non-violent crime that can influence the Crime Severity Index. In 2024, all of these crimes were down from the previous year, with the exception of shoplifting. The largest decreases were seen in vehicle thefts and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle or evading police.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social

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