The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says that long-term crime stats are showing positive results of proactive policing in the city, although overall crime is up this year compared to last year.
“Today we are sharing crime trend statistics and inviting media to report on them so the public knows exactly what is happening when it comes to crime in Vancouver,” said Senior Deputy Chief Constable Howard Chow in a statement.
According to the VPD, violent crime, property crime, and overall crime rates have declined between 2002 and 2005.
It also offered some information in relation to the Crime Severity Index (CSI), which is how Statistics Canada keeps track of crime rates across the country.
The most recent CSI for Vancouver was 83.5, down from 92.6 in 2023.
VPD says that in 2025, Vancouver saw a record low in non-violent CSI scores, “the lowest on record since Statistics Canada started keeping track in 1998.”
In addition, VPD says that the only reason Vancouver didn’t see a record-low violent CSI score is because of the Lapu Lapu incident, which involved 11 second-degree murder charges.
VPD
The VPD admits that overall crime is up this year compared to 2025, but noted that more serious crimes, like murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, commercial break-and-enter, residential break-and-enter, and auto theft are decreasing.
It’s important to note that since 2002, Vancouver has consistently maintained a low homicide rate, aside from years when there may have been mass casualty events, like Lapu Lapu.
VPD
“The most severe types of crime are down, and the VPD is projecting all three CSI categories will drop through 2026 to the lowest ever recorded levels,” VPD adds.
Chow says it’s not an accident that the force is making progress.
“It’s not a coincidence. It’s because the VPD is policing effectively and investing in the right technologies and policing strategies like Project Barrage and the creation of District 5 to address public safety concerns,” he said.
Chow acknowledges that there is always more work to be done, but that the VPD is staying committed to “ensuring the public safety of Vancouver’s residents, businesses and visitors.”
Public safety is of key concern in the Vancouver election this year, and as final voting day approaches, it’ll be a primary voting issue due to the plebiscite introduced by ABC Vancouver.
You can find all the data that the VPD sourced on the department’s website.