Statistics Canada Asks, “Do You Feel Safe?”

84 per cent of people in Saskatoon reported being satisfied with their personal safety from crime in 2014. 89 per cent felt that way in Saskatchewan and 88 per cent in Canada. Statistics Canada has released its Safe Cities profile series. Half of Saskatoon resident felt very safe when walking alone after dark. Women were significantly less likely than men to feel safe walking after dark at 42 per cent versus 58 per cent.

Only 17 per cent of people in Saskatoon had a very strong sense of belonging to their community which was significantly lower than in Saskatchewan at 26 per cent and Canada at 25 per cent.

Over a six year period ending in 2014, 18 per cent of Saskatoon resident say they experienced discrimination, which was similar to Saskatchewan at 15 per cent but significantly higher than Canada’s 13 per cent.

90 per cent of Saskatoon residents reported having confidence in the police which was comparable to Saskatchewan and national numbers.

In 2018, Saskatoon Police reported an overall crime rate that was 23 per cent lower than in Saskatchewan but 60 per cent higher than in Canada. Over the decade ending in 2018, police reported crime declined by 19 per cent in Saskatoon, while a smaller decline was seen in Saskatchewan at 9 per cent and a similar decline in Canada with a drop of 17 per cent. Statistics Canada says over the decade ending in 2018, the severity of crime in Saskatoon declined by 15 per cent compared with a 9 per cent decline in Saskatchewan and a 17 per cent decline in Canada.

Police-reported property crimes in Saskatoon in 2018 were 17 per cent lower than in Saskatchewan but 60 per cent higher than Canada.

Violent crime incidents in Saskatoon reported to police in 2018 were 41 per cent lower than across Saskatchewan but one percent higher than in Canada. Slightly over half of the victims of violent crime were women in all three areas.

The police-reported hate crime rate was higher in Saskatoon at 3.4 incidents per 100 thousand populations, than in Saskatchewan at 2.6 incidents but lower than in Canada at 4.9.

The rate of homicides in Saskatoon in 2018 was 2.44 per 100 thousand which was close to Saskatchewan’s 2.93 but higher than Canada’s 1.76.