Regina police use of force incidents up 8% in 2023 - Action News
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Saskatchewan

Regina police use of force incidents up 8% in 2023

According to areport tabled at Tuesday's meeting of Regina's Board of Police Commissioners, there were 249 use of force incidents in 2023, up from 230 in 2022.

Report says 249 use of force incidents in 2023, up from 230 in 2022

A woman in a police uniform speaks in front of a TV camera.
Regina Police Service Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies speaks to media on Tuesday. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)

Documented use of force incidents by Regina police increased by eight per cent in 2023 compared to the year before.

According to areport tabled at Tuesday's meeting of the city's Board of Police Commissioners, there were 249 use of force incidents in 2023, up from 230 in 2022.

Deputy Chief Lorilee Davies said the increase is related to an increase in calls police are getting related to firearms andviolent offences.

"I think if you said to somebody, 'Is it a surprise to you that use of force went up minimally in the city?'I think the answer would probably be that it seems something that we would see in the community," said Davies.

four people sit at a table to go over a report with the board.
Davies, second from right, speaks at the Regina Police Service Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, where a report on use of force incidents was tabled. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)

The numberof use of force incidents has been consistent during the last five years, the report stated.

"I think that our training is really important in terms of scenario training. We embed de-escalation in everything that we do and so our officers know that an amped-up situation, there are times when you're just going to have to get right in there," said Davies.

Some useof force options that increased included physical strikes causing injury or complaint of injury, firearm discharges, pointing of a firearm and canine deployment causing injury.

The number of times that Tasers were used decreased to nine in 2023from 20 the year before.

The number of drug overdoses is at 211 so far this year, showing an increase in drugs coming into the city, Davies said.

"In May alone, we had three significant seizures and arrests and charges.Alot of the time we're finding that those are people who don't live in our city but are coming to our city," said Davies.