Crime rates rising in Edmonton in 2022 after 3 years of decreases
New numbers from Statistics Canada show crime dropped overall in Edmonton in 2021.
The Edmonton Police Service highlighted those numbers on Thursday.
“Edmonton’s total crime rate decreased by 21 per cent between 2018 and 2021. And in 2021, we realized a reduction of five per cent over 2020,” Sean Tout of EPS told reporters at a media availability.
But one criminologist says it’s early to be celebrating the numbers.
“The results are mixed at best,“ Temitope Oriola said.
While overall crime dropped, serious types of crimes did not.
“I’m thinking specifically about increases in sexual assault, increases in hate crimes.”
There was a 15 per cent increase in sexual assaults in 2021, and hate-motivated crimes have increased 71 per cent in the last three years.
EPS says both types of crimes are widely underreported.
The chief of EPS, Dale McFee, admits there’s more work to be done.
“I want to be very, very, clear that although we’ve made big gains, we’re still not where we need to be,” he said.
And despite decreases over previous years, crime is up in the first half of 2022, something McFee says EPS expected as the world opened back up as COVID-19 precautions eased.
“The biggest issue for us here right now that we’re tackling, that’s a driving part of this, is addiction,” he said.
And while opioid addictions are a problem in Alberta, McFee says that isn’t the drug driving crime.
“The bigger concern in relation to violence for us is meth.”
“Meth keeps you awake; you’re violent. Normal people do not normal things.”
And the rate of some crimes haven’t changed at all.
“Domestic violence, 9,600 occurrences over the last number of years, it hasn’t gone down. So we obviously need to do something different in the space,” McFee said.
EPS says it is now working on new, innovative ways to tackle the problems at hand.
“We’re trying to adjust the best we can, and we’re going to have to continue to adjust.”
“You have to keep finding new and innovative ways, and you can’t just on three years of stats.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.