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Police-reported crimes are down three per cent compared to this time last year in Regina.
Regina Police Service released their crime statistics for the second quarter of 2024 and arsonists seem to be targeting the North Central neighbourhood.
(Graphic by Celine Grimard/ 650 CKOM)
Police Chief Farooq Sheikh said he wasn’t overly concerned with most of the data except for the 69 per cent increase in arsons.
He said police have begun to break down the arson data to find out what kinds of fires are being started — and found that most of them were set in garbage bins.
“So, working collectively with the city, with the fire (department) , can we get those garbage bins emptied sooner? Can we make sure that we’re patrolling in the right areas and can make sure that we are proactively going out there and ensuring that we arrest suspects?” he said.
In addition to higher levels of arson, automated speed enforcement saw an increase over the last year, however it has decreased by 50 per cent since 2015.
(Graphic by Celine Grimard/ 650 CKOM)
Sheikh said his priority was to look at ways of bringing crime down.
“I want to look at violent crime, property crime, auto crime and … the crimes are coming down,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “That’s reassuring for me, and I just want to make sure that we maintain that and we continue to do that.”
Homicides stayed the same with a count of three, while attempted murders fell from 17 to 14 for the first half of 2023 compared with 2024.
Regina’s first homicide of 2024 did not occur until May, when Everett Wolfe Roberts-Orr died from injuries after being found on Sherwood Drive on May 12. Two people were charged.
The city’s second homicide happened on June 1 after a man was murdered on Reynolds Street near College Avenue. No arrests have been made.
Regina’s third homicide of 2024 was a 25-year-old man who was shot on June 29 in the 1900 block of McIntyre Street. Three people have been charged.
(Graphic by Celine Grimard/ 650 CKOM)
While crimes against people only decreased by a count of 11, some other categories saw larger falls.
(Graphic by Celine Grimard/ 650 CKOM)
(Graphic by Celine Grimard/ 650 CKOM)
Sheikh also said RPS has been collaborating with the Cornwall Centre to help reduce crime in the area.
— with files by Abby Zieverink
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