It isn’t the crime capital of Canada but Kelowna is still near the top of the list.
According to Statistics Canada, the Central Okanagan, with Kelowna being the hub, comes in second overall across the country for the number of crimes reported per 100,000 people at a little more than 8000 complaints. That’s up 10 per cent from 2014.
Saskatoon now owns the title of crime capital of Canada with a little more than 8400 complaints per 100,000 people.
The top five are Saskatoon, Kelowna, Regina, Abbottsford and Vancouver.
Back in 2012, Kelowna held the dubious distinction of having the highest crime rate in the country.
WATCH BELOW: Statistics Canada figures from 2012 show Kelowna is the crime capital of Canada. Barry McDivitt reports.
Kelowna RCMP said they need more time to review Wednesday’s report before they provide any comment. However, Superintendent Nick Romanchuk acknowledged a spike in the city’s crime rate in a Global News interview this past May. He links part of the upswing in crime to Kelowna’s growing jobless rate.
In response, Romanchuk launched a crime reduction strategy to decrease crime by 10 per cent over the next four years. To help meet that goal upwards of 20 new members were added to the force over the past few years.
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WATCH BELOW: Kelowna’s top cop acknowledges a spike in the city’s crime and comments on what the RCMP is doing to make the streets safer. Kelly Hayes reports.
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