Prince Rupert saw a major drop in its crime severity index (CSI) in 2024, according to new data from Statistics Canada released on July 22. The city recorded a CSI of 172.93, down from 216.74 the year before — a 20.21% decrease. This change also shifted its provincial ranking from 19th place in 2023 to 22nd among 183 police jurisdictions in British Columbia.
The improvement follows a higher ranking in 2022, when Prince Rupert was 15th with a CSI of 192.68. Experts note that cities with smaller populations can see bigger statistical swings, especially when a few serious crimes, such as murder or aggravated assault, heavily influence the weighted index.
Despite the recent drop, Prince Rupert’s crime severity remains far above the B.C. average of 92.98 in 2024. Over the past decade, from 2015 to 2024, the city averaged a CSI of 169.27, compared to the provincial average of 95.5.
Criminologists stress that long-term figures tell a more complete story. Retired Simon Fraser University professor Neil Boyd said it is encouraging to see short-term improvements, but the 10-year increase is troubling. Since 2015, B.C.’s CSI has risen by 3%, while Prince Rupert’s has grown by 10.5%.
The data also shows a divide between northern and southern B.C. In 2024, northern and rural communities made up more than half of the province’s highest-ranked CSIs. Fort St. James, Quesnel, Williams Lake, Mackenzie, Prince George, Massett, New Hazelton, Dawson Creek, Smithers, and Fort St. John all placed in the top 25.
Prince Rupert also saw progress in its violent crime severity index (VCSI). The city’s VCSI dropped from 341.09 in 2023 to 260.42 in 2024, a 23.65% decrease. This moved its ranking from 9th to 14th in the province.
However, non-violent crime told a different story. The non-violent crime severity index rose sharply to 93.11 in 2024, up 37.9% from 67.52 the year before. This brought the city close to the provincial average of 93.3 and improved its ranking from 129th to 68th in this category.
Police performance statistics also showed positive results. The Prince Rupert RCMP recorded a weighted clearance rate of 38.65, ranking 24th in the province and the highest among urban municipalities in Northwest B.C. This rate measures how many crimes are resolved, with more weight given to serious offences.
Still, not all experts view the numbers as a complete picture. Some point out that crime statistics can be misleading if incidents go unreported. Public Safety critic Elenore Sturko, a former RCMP officer, said fear of retribution often stops victims from contacting police. Statistics Canada also notes that police understaffing can lead to under-reporting, both from law enforcement and the public, which can distort the true crime rate.
In 2024, 54 B.C. police jurisdictions did not submit crime data to Statistics Canada, adding another layer of uncertainty to the provincial overview.
The highest CSI in the province belonged to Sidney/North Saanich (rural) at 385.07, followed by Agassiz (rural) at 357.03 and Duncan (municipal) at 339.12.
On a national level, among Canada’s 42 largest cities with populations over 100,000, B.C. did not perform well. Chilliwack had the highest CSI in the country at 141.7, followed by Kamloops at 129.9. Kelowna also ranked in Canada’s top five with a CSI of 108.8.
Nationally, Canada’s overall CSI declined by 4% in 2024. Crime severity remains highest in the prairie provinces, lowest in the Atlantic provinces, and higher in northern or rural areas compared to major urban centres.
For Prince Rupert, the 2024 results offer a rare positive turn in the short term. However, experts warn that the city’s long-standing high crime rates continue to be a challenge, and broader social and policing efforts will be needed to sustain improvements.
