British Columbia's crime rate and severity saw recent drops, but long-term severity increase raises concerns.

The crime rate in British Columbia dropped by 7% in 2024, with the crime severity index falling by 11% compared to 2023. Over the last decade, the crime rate has decreased by 8%, but the severity index has risen by 3%. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger attributes the reduction to investments in policing, mental health, and crime prevention. However, a criminology expert warns that the increase in the severity index over the past 10 years indicates potentially more violent crimes. Nationally, Canada's crime severity index also fell by 4% in 2024, but rose significantly over the past decade.