Which Cities are the Safest in British Columbia?
British Columbia is a popular tourist destination and home to many Canadians. This forest-heavy province is known for hosting the Vancouver Olympics, housing six national parks, and representing the Bathtub Racing capital of the world. When traveling or residing in British Columbia, it is important to consider which cities are the safest. To ensure personal and asset protection, Canadian business owners and residents use home alarm systems as a safety measure. In this post, we will analyze British Columbia’s most recent statistics and see which cities have the lowest crime rate.
British Columbia Crime Statistics: Where Does the Data Come From?
Statistics Canada is the country’s guide for analyzing safety data, which includes specific information about British Columbia. Public access to this database ensures Canadians can make informed decisions based on the country’s economy, society, and environment. The agency publishes year-round data on incidences of crime across Canada each year. Data for 2020 was released in July 2021 and allows Canadian citizens to see crime statistics sorted by various categories and characteristics. We know this database can be hard to understand, so we have curated the most important information for easy access. Learn about the safest cities in British Columbia in an easy-to-read format right here.
Crime Severity Index: How to Determine the Safest Cities in British Columbia
The Crime Severity Index is a measurement tool used to analyze the volume and severity of police-reported crime in Canada, with a base index value of 100. While this tool may sound like it belongs on a crime-themed TV show, this measurement is important for analyzing safety by city across the country and in British Columbia specifically. The overall CSI for British Columbia in 2020 is 95.71. This score is drastically higher than Canada’s countrywide CSI, which falls at 73.44. Before analyzing the data, it is important to note that Statistics Canada only reports data for four cities in British Columbia. This can be attributed to the densely-packed forest land, which comprises the majority of the landscape. If you are interested in learning more about other dangerous provinces in Canada, you can read about them here.
2020 Canadian Crime Statistics: Are British Columbia Cities Getting Safer?
As stated in the previous section, there was an 8.29 point decrease in the CSI between 2019 and 2020 in British Columbia. As reported by Statistics Canada, “All measures of the CSI—the overall CSI, the Violent CSI, and the Non-violent CSI—decreased for the first time after five years of increases.” What are some of the potential reasons for this decrease? Many attribute the 2020 decline to the pandemic, as shutdowns and quarantines kept more people at home and out of trouble.
Low Crime Spots: Where are the Safest Cities in British Columbia?
There are a handful of dangerous provinces in Canada, and British Columbia is one of them with a CSI of 95.71. British Columbia’s data for 2020 indicated that Victoria scored the lowest crime index with a measure of 75.82. Abbotsford-Mission ranked the second safest province (77.23) and Vancouver came in third place (88.62). Something interesting to note is that Abbotsford-Mission’s CSI index decreased by 10.60 points between 2019 and 2020. As the data is released for 2021, we will keep an eye out for how trends will continue to change as people reemerge into public life.
Lowest Violent Crime Rates: Safest Cities in British Columbia
According to Statistics Canada, examples of violent crimes include uttering threats, criminal harassment, and forcible confinement. British Columbia’s CSI, as indicated by the data for 2020, shows that the violent crime CSI falls at 89.46, which is barely higher than the collective violent crime CSI for the country (87.03). British Columbia’s safest cities, as ranked by the violent crime CSI, are Victoria (74.31), Vancouver (76.85), and Abbotsford-Mission (86.39). Between 2019 and 2020, Victoria had an increase in the violent crime CSI by 14.64 points on the index. To see how these cities compare to those with higher violent crime CSI’s, check out the most dangerous provinces in Canada.
Non-Violent Crime Rates: Safest Cities in British Columbia
Non-violent crimes are defined by Statistics Canada as activities such as traffic, as well as drug violations, and all Federal Statutes. British Columbia’s overall non-violent crime CSI falls at 97.74. The safest cities according to this category in 2020 are Abbotsford-Mission (73.75), Victoria (76.18), and Vancouver (92.65). Between 2019 and 2020, Abbotsford-Missions experienced the greatest non-violent crime decrease at 17.30 points on the index.
Overall Safest Cities in British Columbia
After analyzing the data, it appears that the safest city as ranked by CSI, violent crime CSI, and non-violent crime CSI is Victoria, British Columbia. Although this province is significantly more dangerous than other provinces, this city has the lowest overall crime rates. If you are planning on visiting Victoria, take a walk at the Inner Harbour, check out the Royal BC Museum, and spend time in the Butchart Gardens. As the world reopens in 2021 and 2022, we may see crime rates increase. Regardless of where you are living in Canada, an ADT (now Telus) monitored alarm system from Alarm Guard will keep you feeling secure and protect your assets. Save now on your homeowner’s insurance with an ADT (now Telus) system!
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