Monthly report shows crime rate is down from April 2023: Regina Police Service

Crime reports in Regina declined by 8.5 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023, the Regina Police Service says in a report tabled at the Board of Police Commissioners earlier this week.

Overall, RPS received 302 fewer reports of crimes against people and property, according to the report, leading to a total of 7,056 dispatched calls for service this April. Alarm calls for service were up slightly at .8 per cent.

Chief Farooq Hassan Sheikh says the reduced crime rate is due to strong investigative work by his officers.

"We've taken a lot of drug traffickers off the street," Sheikh told the board on Tuesday at its monthly meeting at police headquarters.

Although crime overall is down, arson is up 70 per cent from last year, according to the report.

Sheikh says the fires are mainly set in garbage and trash bins, indicating police need to find a way to work with the city and the public to reduce these crimes of opportunity.

"If it means that in those areas — and if we can identify roads or locations that have more — maybe you have to look at installing some CCTV," he said. 

Damaged plane grounded

Two months ago the police plane damaged a wing when it came in contact with its hangar. 

Acting Deputy Chief Supt. Darcy Koch told the commisioners insurance will cover the cost of repairs, which will be handled by a Calgary company, and the plane should return to duty by the end of the summer.

"But up until then [it] was flying … normal hours, probably afternoons and through the weekends — and very successful," Koch said. "So it's unfortunate, but we're going to continue to be diligent out there." 

Biometric monitoring in test phase

On March 19, RPS equipped 10 jail cells with biometric monitoring systems: seven for men and three for women.

So far staff have been alerted three times by the monitoring system, a radar-based technology that allows jail staff to monitor a prisoner's vital signs, including heart rate, respiratory rate and movement.

The system is typically used in senior housing, which notifies staff if someone is wandering, in medical distress or without movement.

The system has also provided an added benefit.

"The number of narcotics or concealed or contraband that's being seized from those detainees has increased dramatically," said Staff Sgt. Pierre Beauchesne, who is in charge of central services for RPS and led the way in implementing the system.

The biometric monitoring service for the 10 cells cost $37,594.50, with an additional monthly monitoring cost of $99 per cell, according to the report.

Sheikh says although the biometrics monitoring is still in the testing stage, he would like to see all cells equipped with the technology in the future.