Saskatchewan RCMP annual crime statistics and yearly trends

On this page

• Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore
• Saskatchewan RCMP overview
• Operational Communications Centre (9-1-1 calls)
• Emergency Response Team deployments
• Violent crime
• Property crime
• Continuing to tell the Saskatchewan RCMP’s story
• Footnotes

Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore

I’m a firm believer in transparency and continuing to share the Saskatchewan RCMP story with our partners and the communities we serve – the positives and the challenges. The reality of the situation is that crime continues to increase across Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.

RCMP officers police 46% of Saskatchewan’s population – however, the RCMP is responding to and investigating 60% of the total Criminal Code violations in the province.

It’s important to understand the complexities of policing, evolving criminal activity, and resourcing realities we are faced with on a daily basis. We want the public to know that in the last 10 years, in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction:

• the number of homicide victims increased by 275%
• the number of violent firearm offences increased by 271%
• the number of assaults on our RCMP officers increased by 79%
• the number of assault offences increased by 33%

With an increase in crime, comes a need for a larger police presence in our province. I am pleased to share that this year, the Provincial Government has committed to funding our full complement of 1,047 RCMP officers. This welcomed commitment ensures we have the resources needed to help keep Saskatchewan communities safe.

While we work to fill these positions, we are doing what we can to alleviate pressures on our detachments. We’ve implemented strategies to respond to increasing workload, crime and complexity of duties. This includes temporary amalgamations of some RCMP detachments, using new and innovative tools - such as unmanned aerial vehicles - to enhance our policing techniques, and shifting resources to ensure workloads are manageable. We’re committed to continuing our aggressive recruiting efforts to attract new RCMP officers to Saskatchewan. We have changed our practices so that if you are recruited to the RCMP from Saskatchewan and want to return to Saskatchewan, you are able to do that and have the opportunity to have a positive impact in your home province.

I want to be clear – law enforcement is only one part of the solution for decreasing crime. Social issues like substance addiction, gangs, and absence of community resources are some of the root causes of crime. These issues are complex and take a concerted, multi-agency response. We are dedicated to continuing to work with our partner agencies to ensure we can support and contribute to positive change in Saskatchewan.

It goes without saying that each community is different and has unique policing needs. Ongoing partnership and collaboration with local leadership allow us to identify what challenges the community is faced with. We are committed to working with our communities to address those unique policing needs in our communities throughout Saskatchewan.

Despite some of the challenges you have heard about today…I want to speak about the resiliency of the communities in our province and the absolutely fantastic people who live there. I have been back in Saskatchewan now for over three years. During this time, I have attended countless community events, feasts, traditions sharing, luncheons, celebrations and more. I know and hear firsthand the important relationships our front line officers and employees providing operational support have with the people in the communities they call home.

Our employees are working hard to provide the best possible policing services to the people of Saskatchewan. I would encourage you to reach out to your local RCMP detachment - give them a thanks for the hard work they’re doing to keep communities safe. It’s these small messages that go a long way in making our employees feel appreciated and helps build those important community relationships that can ultimately help counter criminal activity.

Assistant Commissioner Rhonda Blackmore
Commanding Officer of the Saskatchewan RCMP

Saskatchewan RCMP overview

The Saskatchewan RCMP is responsible for policing 99.9% of the total area and 46% of the total population of Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan RCMP is comprised of three districts: North, Central and South.

In 2023, 60% of the total Criminal Code violations were in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction, as well as 65% of the total violent crime. Although the Saskatchewan RCMP police under half of the Saskatchewan population, almost two thirds of the Criminal Code violations in this province were responded to and investigated by RCMP officers.

In Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction, crime rates have remained high and are continuing to increase. An overall provincial downward trend in crime rate has been noted – however, this is the result of crime rates decreasing for other Saskatchewan police services (such as Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service, Moose Jaw Police Service).

Operational Communications Centre (9-1-1 calls)

The Saskatchewan RCMP Divisional Operational Communications Centre (DOCC) provides support to the three Districts by answering calls for service – including emergency calls (9-1-1) from the public and dispatching the appropriate police resources to a specific area. The DOCC is often the first point of contact for those in a crisis or experiencing an emergency.

From 2015 to 2019, the Saskatchewan RCMP DOCC averaged 266,000 calls per year. From 2019 to 2021, the DOCC operators experienced an increase in total calls – surpassing 352,000 calls in the last two years.

From 2015 to 2019, the DOCC operators averaged answering 4,000 Priority 1 calls per year. Priority 1 calls are the highest priority and require immediate dispatch – these calls usually involve either a reported loss of life or a need for police to prevent a loss of life. Since 2020, there have been more than 5,000 Priority 1 calls per year – this is equivalent to 15 Priority 1 calls a day, every single day of the year.

Emergency Response Team deployments

The Saskatchewan RCMP Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) respond to the most serious and dangerous situations as they unfold. One component of the Saskatchewan RCMP CIRT is the Emergency Response Team (ERT) – who are responsible for providing tactical support to detachments or units that require assistance with both planned and reactive events.

From 2019 to 2023, the total Saskatchewan RCMP ERT deployments have doubled – this includes planned responses (for example, executing high risk warrants) and unplanned/emergency responses (for example, armed/barricaded individual, mass casualty event). However, the unplanned/emergency responses have tripled in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.

From January 1 to June 30, 2024, the Saskatchewan RCMP ERT has been deployed 46 times throughout the province.

Violent crime

Saskatchewan RCMP data indicates that not only are there more victims of violent crime – the victims are experiencing more severe forms of violence.

In 2023, assault offences accounted for 62% and harassment or uttering threats offences accounted for 25% in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.

From January 1 to May 31, 2024, violent crime offences reported to the Saskatchewan RCMP have increased 2% compared to the same timeframe in 2023.

Property crime

Saskatchewan RCMP officers are investigating almost 12,000 more property crimes than they were 10 years ago. Of the total property crime in 2023, Mischief offences account for 58% and Theft offences accounted for 21% in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.

From January 1 to May 31, 2024, property crime offences reported to the Saskatchewan RCMP have increased 13% compared to the same timeframe in 2023.

Continuing to tell the Saskatchewan RCMP’s story

• June 21, 2023: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes investigating 15 homicides in 2023, including three over the weekend
• July 26, 2023: Excellent Partnerships and Community Engagement - Key for Success in Proactive Policing Initiatives in Battlefords RCMP area
• August 25, 2023: Saskatchewan RCMP plans for take off with unmanned aircraft in every detachment
• October 25, 2023: Saskatchewan RCMP officer rammed by suspect; assault on police officers up 29% over five years
• January 3, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes has seen a 50% increase in the number of homicides in the last 5 years
• February 6, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes investigating 3 separate homicides in 29 hours
• February 15, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP Police Dog Services responds to 1000+ calls a year. Here’s what we’re doing to help keep them safe in the line of duty.
• March 21, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP begin Mandatory Alcohol Screenings (MAS) on routine traffic stops
• April 29, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP acknowledge extensive investigation leading to the conviction of 10 individuals in 2019 homicide
• May 10, 2024: Battlefords RCMP’s Gang Task Force proactively working to keep weapons, drugs out of the community
• May 14, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP: 60 charges laid following extensive sexual assault/exploitation investigation involving youth
• May 31, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP investigating after police vehicle rammed
• June 6, 2024: RCMP response to 2022 mass casualty homicides
• July 4, 2024: Saskatchewan RCMP Indigenous Recruiting: Continuing to recognize and remove barriers for Saskatchewan applicants