Regina police say 900 fewer crimes reported in first half of 2017

The Regina Police Service says the total number of reported crimes for the first six months of 2017 is down compared with2016 something that hasn't happened for several years, the force points out.

The latest stats were on the agenda at thecity's board of police commissionersmeetingWednesday. A reportsigned by Chief Evan Braysays there were8.9 per cent fewer reported crimes in the first half compared to the same period last year.

From January 1 to June 30 of 2017, police said itreceived 9,179 crime reports 895 fewerthan this time last year.

• Sask. has the highest provincial crime rate in Canadaand the most severe crimes, too

The report comes the same week as one from Statistics Canadathat shows the city's crime rate went up more than 11 per cent comparing 2016 to 2015. The StatsCan report also showed Regina with the highest crime severity rate a measure that gives greater weight to more serious crimes of 33 communities.

Firearms offences jumped 233 per cent in the citywith 58 incidents, up from 17 in 2015.

In Wednesday's report, police said they'relooking at the total crimes reported, not rate or severity,and include crimes against a person, property as well as other criminal code offences, excluding drug and traffic crimes.

• What are police doing about Regina's rising crime rate?
• Regina crime increased 6.6% in 2016

Here's a breakdown of the reported crime counts by mid-2017:

• 11.4 per cent fewer crimes against persons compared with mid-2016
• 11.9 per cent fewer assaults compared with mid-2016
• 55 sexual assaults by mid-2017, lower than ten year mean average
• 5.7 per cent fewer robberiescompared withmid- 2016
• 12 reported instances of criminal harassment of stalking, lower than ten-year mean average
• 3.3 per cent fewer reported property crimes compared withmid-2017
• 11.2 per cent fewer motor vehicle thefts compared withmid-2016
• 1.6 per cent fewer break and enters compared withmid-2016
• 13.8 per cent decrease in mischief compared withmid-2016
• 1 charge of prostitution

Thefts, arson and drug charges up

The report also shows 29per cent of reported crimes in the city have been theft-related. It says more thefts were reported by June 2017 compared with the same time last year.

There were50 incidents of arson reported by mid-2017, which is higher than the 10-year averageof 39.

According to the report, there was a 3.2 per cent increase in violations under the Controlled Drugsand Substances Act and increase in the number of traffic tickets issued.

The number of homicides, assaults and incidents of forcible confinement are also on par with the 10-year average, police said.