British Columbia crime statistics challenge government safety claims
An analysis of crime statistics in British Columbia challenges the Eby government’s claims of building a safer province. While the provincial Crime Severity Index has decreased by 1.6 per cent year-over-year, other metrics indicate rising safety concerns.
The Violent Crime Severity Index rose by 2.2 per cent compared to 2024, and youth crime saw increases in both overall and violent severity indices during 2025. Long-term data shows that from 2017 to 2025, the province’s Violent Crime Severity Index increased by 31.7 per cent.
In major urban centers, crime trends are also worsening. In the first half of 2026, Vancouver reported a 6.0 per cent increase in violent crime incidents and a 4.3 per cent increase in property crime compared to the same period in 2025. Surrey is also experiencing similar upward trends in crime.
Entities
British Columbia · Fraser Institute · Nina Krieger · Statistics Canada · Surrey · Vancouver · Vancouver Police Department
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Violent Crime Severity Index in British Columbia rose by 2.2 per cent compared to 2024. abbynews.com · albernivalleynews.com · thenorthernview.com · theprogress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Minister Nina Krieger stated that British Columbia's Crime Severity Index has decreased for two consecutive years and is nearly 12% lower than in 2023. abbynews.com · albernivalleynews.com · thenorthernview.com · theprogress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] British Columbia's Crime Severity Index decreased by 1.6 per cent year-over-year. abbynews.com · albernivalleynews.com · thenorthernview.com · theprogress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Between 2017 and 2025, the province's Violent Crime Severity Index increased by 31.7 per cent. abbynews.com · albernivalleynews.com · thenorthernview.com · theprogress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] In Vancouver, violent crime incidents increased by 6.0 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared to the first half of 2025. abbynews.com · albernivalleynews.com · thenorthernview.com · theprogress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Property crime incidents in Vancouver increased by 4.3 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared to the first half of 2025. abbynews.com · albernivalleynews.com · thenorthernview.com · theprogress.com