Inside North Battlefords 2025 crime plan [Video]

Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) ranked North Battleford the most dangerous city in Canada for several years prior to 2023.

Jesse Gilbert, Battleford RCMP detachment commander, says “the numbers are there and, you know, there’s no hiding them. But they don’t tell the whole story?”

Though the index no longer ranks smaller cities like North Battleford alongside those like Saskatoon, Mayor Kelli Hawtin says the city has worked hard to change its reputation as a hotspot for crime.

“…over five years we’re looking at a 67 per cent reduction in firearms offences, specifically. That’s one statistic we’re looking at. And we are seeing an overall reduction in calls for service year over year, but also over the last five years. So, we feel that some of the work we’re doing here is really starting to pay off.”

Battlefords RCMP commander Insp. Jesse Gilbert says it’s not just firearm crimes going downward, but crime overall.