Here’s what's behind a rise in crime in Kelowna

A booming economy. Mental health and addiction issues. A catch-and-release justice system. Millions of tourists. Successful investigations.

Those factors have combined to make a perfect cocktail for Kelowna to see a surge in crime in 2021.

That from Kelowna RCMP Supt. Kara Triance in the wake of Statistics Canada’s annual report on crime across the country. The federal agency produces crime severity index (CSI) rankings, which measure the seriousness of crime, assigning greater weight to more significant offences.

Kelowna had the second highest CSI in Canada last year, behind only Lethbridge, Alta. When considering only violent crime, the city ranks sixth in the country.

For context, Kelowna’s CSI was 122.3, and Lethbridge’s was 128.7. Winnipeg (113.6), Moncton, (113.4), Regina (110.9), Saskatoon (106), and Thunder Bay (101.3) also have CSIs over 100.

The jump in Kelowna’s ranking is driven by a rise in child pornography, shoplifting, theft under $5,000, and mischief charges, the report said. However, there were decreases in the trafficking, production, importation or exportation of meth, and identity fraud.

Further skewing the data, Triance said, is the fact visitor populations do not factor into the data. Over two million tourists flood Kelowna each year, causing crime in the process.

“The stats and the justice reports are not going to have that comparative factor worked into the analysis,” she explained, adding how a bounty of data backs up the fact that when hotels are busy, so are officers.

Diligent police work and one person being responsible for dozens of charges can also weigh disproportionately on the overall crime data.

Dedicated child sexual exploitation units and property crime teams finding success in their investigations are also contributing to the grim statistics, she said.

“I am not here to tell you that we don’t have a problem that needs to be responded to,” she said. “I am here to tell you that these concerning statistics are ones that we are actively working on.”

The police service has brought in nearly 30 new officers since Jan. 1, 2022. However, she said record high housing costs hindered recruitment efforts as many young officers are coming from placements in Northern or remote communities.

Triance also reiterated her concerns about a clogged and ever more complex justice system that has burdened officers with bureaucracy, and left people out on the street awaiting court dates, committing crime.

Opioid-related crimes surged 13 per cent year-over-year in the nation, the StatsCan report found. British Columbia reported the highest rates, and Kelowna, the second highest among major cities in Canada.

Triance said a lack of addiction support services can lead to prolonged wait times, hindering recovery efforts and leaving people on the street, often committing crime.

Though violent crime is up across the country, it’s driven heavily by a steep rise in police-reported sexual assaults. However, the report notes this is likely still a “significant underestimation” of the true number.