In the most recent Estevan Police Service crime statistics report, Estevan Police Department’s Deputy Chief Warren Morrical explained that the numbers have remained relatively consistent year over year.
Assaults saw a six per cent increase, with the year-to-date (YTD) average rising from 68 to 72 in 2024 compared to the previous year. The monthly total was 12 in July of this year, compared to eight the previous year. The five-year YTD average is 65.20 compared to 72 this year, marking a 10.4 per cent increase.
“July just being a larger month for us in terms of the assaults. Specifically, the majority of those are either interpersonal violence or family or individuals known to one another, and each of those cases we’re talking a physical assault, so that could be anything from a push to a fight.”
Assault causing bodily harm saw 75 per cent increase, with a YTD total of seven compared to four the previous year, and a five-year average of 5.8 per cent. The monthly total was 12 this year compared to eight the previous July.
“In terms of assault causing bodily harm, those are categorized whenever an assault ends up with physical harm to the body. So, it could be something as simple as a cut lip would be considered assault causing bodily harm. Typically it’s a step up from bruises or that type of injury received in an assault but is in a category in and of itself.”
Robbery showed a 300 per cent increase, with three instances in July compared to zero the year before. The five-year average is 5.8, marking a 200 per cent increase over the five-year average.
Morrical noted that within this category, this could include incidents such as someone’s phone being taken from them.
“These are not strong-arm robberies where someone is held up at gunpoint or anything like that.”
Theft under $5,000 saw a 50.7 per cent increase from the five-year average, with the 2024 YTD total at 145 and the five-year average being 96.20. The year-over-year difference shows a 36 per cent increase, jumping from 107 to 145 in July.
Theft of a motor vehicle saw a significant increase, going from five in 2023 to 19 in 2024, which is a 102.1 per cent increase over the five-year average of 9.40. The year-over-year change for July showed a 36 per cent increase, going from 107 instances to 145.
He noted that the majority of these cases have been classified as “take auto without consent.”
“I believe there were four year to date; there were actual thefts of a motor vehicle from an unknown person or individuals that were identified after.”
“The majority of the rest of those will be investigations into things like family members taking a vehicle and not returning it. Individuals known to the owner of the vehicle that either loans it out or someone takes it without authorization and refuses to give it back.”
Sexual crimes saw a 28 per cent decrease in July compared to the same time last year, with 18 instances in 2024 compared to 25 in 2023. The YTD total is 18, and the five-year average is 18.40, marking a 2.2 per cent decrease.
Crimes under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act were also down for July.
“We recognize that drug trafficking is a significant concern for any community and ours is among those communities with that concern. We have full-time members right now that are working diligently to attempt to interrupt drug trafficking and identify individuals that are participating and hold them accountable for bringing drugs into the community.”
Overall calls for service for July were down compared to last year, going from 651 in July 2023 to 520 in 2024. YTD, the numbers show 4,215 calls for service in July 2024 compared to 4,933, marking a 14.6 per cent decrease. The five-year YTD average is 4,680, marking a 9.9 per cent decrease.
Morrical explained that this number is hard to quantify when it comes to what it means for crime in the community, adding that several factors could affect the number of calls for service, such as fewer tickets being issued or when the calls for service were made.