Calgary Crime Severity Falls Again Despite Rise in Overall Reported Offences

Calgary recorded another decline in the severity of crime during 2025, continuing a positive trend that has now lasted for two consecutive years. However, newly released data also shows that while the city’s most serious offences have decreased, the overall number of reported crimes has increased, largely driven by a rise in non violent incidents.

According to the latest national crime statistics, Calgary’s Crime Severity Index dropped by three per cent to 61.7 in 2025, placing the city well below both the national and Alberta averages. The figure is also close to Calgary’s lowest recorded crime severity level, highlighting continued progress in reducing the impact of the most serious criminal offences.

Among Alberta’s largest cities, Calgary recorded the lowest Crime Severity Index, outperforming Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer, all of which reported significantly higher scores.

Despite this encouraging trend, the overall crime rate in Calgary increased by five per cent during the year. The increase reflects a higher number of police reported incidents rather than a rise in the seriousness of offences.

Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief Asif Rashid said the latest figures should not lead to complacency, noting that while progress has been made in reducing violent crime, many residents continue to experience offences that directly affect their sense of safety.

Police data indicates that violent crimes, including homicides and robberies, declined by 13 per cent during 2025. At the same time, officers responded to more cases involving shoplifting, property offences and fraud, all of which contributed to the increase in the overall crime rate.

Rashid said these non violent offences continue to have a significant impact on residents, businesses and communities. Even though such crimes carry lower severity scores, they remain important because they influence how safe people feel in their neighbourhoods and public spaces.

Experts say the difference between crime severity and crime rate often creates confusion. The Crime Severity Index measures the seriousness of offences by assigning different weights based on court sentencing, meaning violent crimes have a much greater impact on the index than lower level property crimes or thefts.

Justice studies professor Doug King explained that while incidents such as shoplifting and theft under $5,000 increased, many of the offences carrying the highest severity scores continued to decline. As a result, the overall severity of crime dropped even though police recorded more incidents.

He noted that the city’s improvement reflects a reduction in more serious criminal activity, while increases in lower level offences continue to push up the total number of reported crimes.

Sociology professor Ravi Inder Kaur said the public’s perception of safety does not always match statistical trends. She explained that many Calgarians regularly encounter visible social disorder, theft or other non violent crimes while using public transit or visiting busy commercial areas, making residents feel less secure despite improvements shown in official data.

Kaur also pointed out that crime statistics rely on incidents reported to police and therefore may not capture the full picture. Some offences remain unreported, particularly among vulnerable groups who may hesitate to contact law enforcement.

She noted that victims of domestic violence, newcomers and other members of the community may be less likely to report crimes, meaning the true extent of some offences may not be fully reflected in official figures.

The latest statistics suggest Calgary continues to make meaningful progress in reducing serious violent crime while facing ongoing challenges related to property crime, fraud and retail theft. Police say maintaining public confidence will require continued efforts to address both violent offences and the everyday crimes that affect residents’ quality of life.

As Calgary’s population continues to grow, city officials and law enforcement agencies are expected to focus on balancing crime prevention, community safety initiatives and targeted enforcement to reduce both the severity and frequency of criminal activity across the city.

Courtesy: CBC