Edmonton’s overall crime rate dropped 6% in 2024: police

Edmonton’s total crime rate dropped six per cent last year despite a sharp increase possession of certain drugs and shoplifting.

The Edmonton Police Service says the overall number of police-reported crimes fell from 2023 to 2024.

Those figures were bolstered by a drop in minor theft and some weapons offences, as well as animal cruelty violations, accessing child pornography charges and breaking and entering.

There was also an overall five per cent reduction in Edmonton’s total crime severity index (CSI), which measures the volume and severity of a crime.

“These figures demonstrate encouraging results that are a direct product of targeted police work that dedicates the right resources to the right places, through initiatives like our Transit Community Safety (TRACS) teams and our Guns and Gangs Strategy,” said Interim Chief Warren Driechel. “In addition, we continued to see an increase in proactive policing efforts through 2024, which has a significant impact in disrupting crime and is a contributor to seeing violent crime trend to a five-year low.

“Over the past 18 months, we have leaned heavily on high-visibility policing placements in areas like transit hubs and core communities. We know we need to turn the tide in terms of how Edmontonians perceive crime and disorder in these areas.”

But some offences rose significantly from 2023 to 2024.

Possession of opioids, methamphetamine and cocaine increased 152 per cent, 116 per cent and 73 per cent respectively.

There was also an increase in voyeurism (55 per cent), making or distributing child pornography (37 per cent), pointing a firearm (24 per cent), breach of probation (19 per cent), possession of weapons (15 per cent), theft over $5,000 (15 per cent), assault against peace officers (13 per cent), shoplifting under $5,000 (12 per cent) and arson (11 per cent).

“These incidents have a significant impact on the well-being of the community and on how safe our communities feel,” said Driechel. “We will continue to emphasize our proactive policing and will work with our partners in government and in the community to respond to conditions on the street, along with the criminal precursors to much of the disorder we see.”

More stats available at the Edmonton Police’s Service’s crime dashboard.