Fredericton Sees Decrease in Non-Violent Crimes and Improved Clearance Rates in 2023
The Fredericton Police Force (FPF) has released the latest Crime Severity Index ratings from Statistics Canada for Fredericton, showing a decrease in non-violent crimes in the city, and a slight increase in violent crimes. The data also shows an increase in the Clearance Rate, or crimes “solved” by police, both violent and non-violent.
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) refers to a measure of police-reported crime that combines the relative seriousness and volume of individual offences through a mathematical weighting calculation. The Clearance Rate is the percentage of criminal incidents solved by police, either by laying a charge or other means.
Report highlights include:
• Nationally, the largest contributors to the violent crimes CSI are break and enter, fraud, robbery, and sexual assault level 1.
• Fredericton’s CSI for violent crime increased by 4%, remaining 12.4% below the national average and 7% below the provincial average. This highlights Fredericton being well below the average amount of violent crime for a population this size. The increase is a result of more reports of people uttering threats and assaults.
• Fredericton’s CSI for non-violent crime decreased 2% compared to 2022. The city had been seeing a 7% increase year over year and focused resources on the issues through 2023, with the results reflected in the new numbers. Reports of thefts and mischief to property continue to be the primary drivers for non-violent crimes.
• The decrease also drops the city to being 14% above the national average and now matching the provincial numbers, emphasizing that the management of non-violent crime is stabilizing in the city.
• Fredericton’s overall CSI has remained stable in 2023.
• Fredericton’s overall Clearance Rate increased 8%, comprised of a 4% increase in solved violent crimes and a 9% increase in solved non-violent crimes.
• The increase in clearance rate for violent crimes continues to be partially attributed to the formation of a multi-agency task force (the IEU), enabling us to collaborate with other law enforcement groups more easily
• Fredericton’s Clearance Rate is above the average provincial numbers but remains below the national average.
• Fredericton Police responded to 34,492 calls for service in 2023.
The latest Crime Severity Index ratings for Fredericton reflect the ongoing commitment to community safety and effective policing by the Fredericton Police Force. The decrease in non-violent crimes and the increase in the Clearance Rate are positive indicators that their focused efforts are yielding results.
Sonya Gilks
Public Information Officer
Fredericton Police Force
Fpf.media@fredericton.ca
506-460-2777