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The North Bay Police Service is highlighting the recent findings of the national Crime Severity Index showing North Bay's standing has improved for the third consecutive year, dropping to 103.9 in 2022.
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) ranks communities over 10,000 population by police-reported crime. The resulting number is meant to reflect the seriousness of individual offences. The Crime Severity Index is not a per capita measure of crime rates. The CSI weighs different offences based on the severity of sentences handed down in the courts. The lower the index, the fewer serious crimes.
In 2020, North Bay’s CSI value was 113 and the rank among the more than 300 communities measured in the Index was 45th in Canada. In 2021, NBPS says it was encouraged to see that North Bay’s CSI value decreased slightly to 112.5 and the city's ranking among communities also decreased to 48th in Canada.
See related: North Bay sees slight drop on Crime Severity Index
The just released figures for 2022 show a more significant decrease in North Bay’s CSI to 103.9 and a drop in rank in Canada to 59th.
NBPS observes the 2022 figures give North Bay one of the lowest CSI rankings among Northern Ontario’s major cities:
- Greater Sudbury (82.8)
- North Bay (103.9)
- Thunder Bay (108.9)
- Sault Ste. Marie (117.4)
- Timmins (148.5)
NBPS notes the downward trend in the Crime Severity Index coincides with its extensive recruitment effort, which saw the North Bay Police Services Board approve the creation of 14 additional constable positions through 2022 and 2023. The North Bay Police Service continues to recruit experienced constables, new recruit constables, and special constables. Additional information about recruitment including job descriptions and requirements can be found on the NBPS website.
See also: Violent crime stats dropping in North Bay
“I am encouraged to see the improvement to North Bay’s Crime Severity Index ranking for 2022,” says North Bay Chief of Police Scott Tod. “North Bay’s 2022 CSI figures show that the work of our members at NBPS is making a difference. We still face challenges in our community, but we are moving in the right direction. We are doing our part at NBPS in addressing the goals of the City of North Bay’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, which provides the collaborative framework needed to create real, lasting improvements in the lives of the people of North Bay. The North Bay Police Service will continue to work closely with our community partners to make North Bay a safe, engaged, and inclusive community.”
NBPS says it continues to invest in support services that help its officers better keep the people of North Bay safe. This includes the ongoing implementation of a digital evidence management system, police body-worn camera program, and Next Generation 911. In addition to these initiatives, the North Bay Police Service continues to work collaboratively with its community partners to ensure at-risk individuals receive the supports they need, diverting many people away from the justice system and preventing crimes from occurring in the first place.