Chilliwack tops Canada’s Crime Severity Index in 2024, BC sees overall decline

July 23, 2025

Parteek Singh Mahal

Chilliwack, a city in British Columbia, recorded Canada’s highest and most severe crime rate in 2024, despite an encouraging overall decrease in crime across the province.

According to the latest police-reported statistics from Statistics Canada for census metropolitan areas, Chilliwack’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) hit 141.7. This places it significantly above Kamloops, which ranked second at 129.9 CSI, and Winnipeg in third with 124.4 CSI. In comparison, the Abbotsford-Mission area had a CSI of 95.

Chilliwack’s crime rate, which accounts for Criminal Code incidents excluding traffic offenses, stood at 11,352 incidents per 100,000 population. While this represents a four percent decrease from 2023, Kamloops saw a more substantial 19 percent year-over-year decline to 10,546.

Across Canada, the overall CSI dropped by four percent in 2024, ending a three-year streak of nationwide increases. Chilliwack’s own CSI declined by 11 percent.

BC’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Nina Krieger said “The newly released 2024 police-reported crime stats are encouraging. B.C.’s Crime Severity Index fell 11% last year to its lowest level in six years, marking the largest drop in the country.”

She attributed this improvement to collaborative efforts. “This progress reflects the continued efforts by the B.C. government, First Nations and local governments, police services, community organizations and businesses to work together to build safer communities.” Krieger emphasized that this reduction is also a direct result of “focused investments in policing, mental-health and addictions supports, housing and crime-prevention initiatives.”

Highlighting specific successes within British Columbia, the Minister noted, “violent firearm offences dropped by 20%, homicides dropped 24%, robbery dropped by 8% and mischief dropped by 4%.”

Despite these promising statistics, Krieger acknowledged that the work isn’t over. “While these results are promising, we know we have more work to do and there are specific areas where we need to renew our focus.”