REGINA - Crime stats in Regina are still up from 2015, but data suggests those numbers are starting to decline.
In 2024, the Regina Police Service (RPS) reported nearly 20,000 crimes, a 5 per cent increase from 2015. Most notably, there was a 22 per cent increase in sexual assaults from 2023, and an 80 per cent increase from 2015.
Additionally, the RPS reported a 63 per cent increase in sexual offence crimes, which was 122 in 2024. These rates are higher than the average of 74 sexual offence crimes the RPS has seen in the last decade.
RPS Police Chief Farooq Sheikh mentioned during the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Thursday, "I think overall you can see that crime's going up from 2015. Well, that doesn't surprise me with the population going up and [the amount of] drugs [available]."
Overdose deaths in Regina have been a big issue over the last few years. In 2021, the city recorded 164 overdose deaths and 151 more in 2023.
While those numbers have gone down in 2024 (110), there is still the issue of drugs being transported in Regina and Sask.
Within the last year, the RPS has conducted a few major drug bust operations. On Monday, the RPS seized 7.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 476 grams of cocaine and 22 grams of methamphetamine in a four-month-long operation.
Insp. Gary Giroux confirmed the drugs came from Eastern Canada but wouldn’t clarify the exact location nor where they were intended to be sold.
Sheikh was asked if the RPS is concerned about drugs in the community.
He said, "we know [it's an issue and] [it] is not just here. Everywhere is struggling with drug offences, fentanyl, meth, cocaine. We all know that."
Responding to the increase in drugs on the street, Justice Minister Tim McLeod laid out plans to remove illegal substances in Sask. communities on Tuesday.
Part of that is giving police more authority to remove anyone from doing drugs in public spaces by updating the Trespass to Property Act, which deems drug use on properties as trespassing.
Responding to the announcement, Sheikh said, "any positive change in legislation to help us take drugs off the street is a positive."
He believes this will allow the RPS to be more proactive and apprehend people more easily
Drop in Crime
Sheikh has referenced the RPS's quicker and more effective response as part of the reason crime is going down.
Despite 2024 having a 5 per cent increase in crime compared to 2015, it was also a 4 per cent decrease from 2023.
In particular, only six homicides were reported in 2024, which is down from 15 compared to 2021.
"[Regarding] homicides, we had the lowest [amount] in 10 years last year, said Sheikh. "But the good news [is] over the last five years, every homicide we've had, our detectives have solved every [case]."
Sheikh noted that removing murderers off the streets decreases the chances of a repeat offence.
While minor, assaults were also down roughly 1 per cent from 2023. Assaults, Level 3, were down by 18 per cent year-over-year, while assaults, Level 2, were down 3 per cent in that same span.
Overall, total assaults are still up by 36 per cent since 2015.
Looking at 2025, numbers from RPS’s Jan. report show more positive signs, with violent crimes against the person down 30.7 per cent compared to 2024, with nearly 100 fewer reported cases.
Robbery was also down by 38 per cent year-over-year, while sexual assaults saw an approximate 23 per cent drop in that same span.
