Last year, Oak Bay’s crime severity index (CSI) score dropped to its lowest level since 2020, following a two-year increase.
Used to measure both the volume and severity of police-reported crime in an area, the Statistics Canada metric addresses the limitations of the conventional crime rate, which calculates the number of crimes per 100,000 people.
In 2024, the district’s CSI hit 23.63, down by 22.95 per cent from the year before – a dip Oak Bay Police Department Chief Julie Chanin thinks “is in part due to our department's concerted efforts to prioritize visibility, proactive patrols and community engagement, ensuring early intervention in potential issues.”
“Equally important is the role played by our proactive and engaged community,” she added. “The strong relationships between our police department and the residents of Oak Bay have been instrumental in fostering an environment of cooperation and mutual trust."
Oak Bay logged its highest CSI over the last five years – 30.67 – in 2023, and it saw 18.16 and 26.01 violent and non-violent crime severity indexes last year, both of which factor into CSI scores. These metrics dropped by 35.6 and 18.49 per cent between 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Chanin explained that, though changes in the district’s CSI help inform Oak Bay PD’s strategies, “we don’t chase numbers.”
“It is crucial to remember that no single metric can fully capture the essence of community safety,” she added. “Our primary focus remains ensuring that every individual in Oak Bay feels secure in their neighbourhood.”
With a 37.19 score last year, Saanich also saw its CSI hit a five-year low. Central Saanich, Sidney and North Saanich logged 25.50, 58.79 and 35.59 CSI scores in 2024, respectively.
Though Victoria’s CSI decreased by 10.5 per cent last year, affected primarily by a 17.5 per cent dip in its non-violent crime severity index, the Victoria Police Department, which also oversees Esquimalt, logged the highest CSI of municipal police departments provincewide.
“Our downtown core sees a high level of activity, and this concentration of activity influences our overall crime statistics compared to other municipalities,” Victoria PD said in a news release.
Though Oak Bay boasts a lower CSI than neighbouring communities, Chanin noted the district faces unique circumstances that contribute to its score.
“When comparing Oak Bay to other municipalities, it is important to consider factors such as crime rate, population density and overall population,” she said. “Oak Bay's relatively lower crime rate and smaller population contribute to its unique profile.”
B.C. saw its CSI hit 92.98 last year – the lowest it has been since 2020. Among the provinces and territories, it logged the seventh highest score, while Northwest Territories' 526.92 CSI took the top spot.
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger called the province’s 2024 results “encouraging.”
“This progress reflects the continued efforts by the B.C. government, First Nations and local governments, police services, community organizations and businesses to work together to build safer communities,” she said in a news release. "We are seeing the positive impacts of new provincial programs to strengthen public safety, such as expanded integrated response teams and targeted enforcement against repeat violent offenders and organized crime. For example, in British Columbia, violent firearm offences dropped by 20 per cent, homicides dropped 24 per cent, robbery dropped by 8 per cent and mischief dropped by 4 per cent."
Krieger, however, acknowledged "there are specific areas where we need to renew our focus."
“There is much more to do and we’re going to keep working hard to make sure people in British Columbia can build a good life in safe, healthy communities," she added.
Canada’s CSI dropped by 4.08 per cent to 77.89 in 2024, following a three-year increase.
