While Lethbridge’s Crime Severity Index rose slightly in 2025, the city’s police chief said the increase stemmed from a handful of high-severity cases.
The city’s CSI increased 1.87 per cent, with the index including both the volume of police-reported crime and the seriousness of those offences into a single measure.
Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh said the increase should not be interpreted as evidence that crime is becoming more widespread. He said the overall picture remains positive because overall crime is down, police are solving more cases and more offenders are being held accountable.
“Some of the factors contributing to a higher Crime Severity Index are actually the result of productive police work, enhanced investigations and increased support for victims,” he said.
Mehdizadeh said part of the increase was driven by a small number of serious incidents, including several attempted murder cases in 2025. One investigation involved five victims, resulting in five attempted murder charges against the accused. Because attempted murder receives one of the highest severity scores in the CSI, even a single incident involving multiple victims can have a noticeable impact on the annual index.
Human trafficking investigations also contributed to the increase, with four cases reported in 2025 compared with none the previous year. Although the number of incidents remained low, those offences carry significant weight in the CSI because of their seriousness.
“Proactive work sometimes result in the CSI increasing,” he said. “Increases in failure to comply with court imposed conditions reflect enhanced monitoring of the offenders who are subject to release conditions. Probation orders and other judicial restrictions increase enforcement in this area and resulted in more breaches being detected and more charges being laid.”
However, according to Mehdizadeh the police service also recorded a nearly four per cent increase in its file clearance rate. The measure reflects the proportion of reported investigations that police clear through charges or other means, indicating more offenders were identified and held accountable.
Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said the city’s long-term trend remains encouraging despite the slight increase in the severity index.
“To me, this is the more important number to focus on,” Hyggen said of the 13 per cent decline in overall crime. “The CSI small bump was due to a few isolated incidences in 2025, as well as an increase in crimes being solved. This is great news for the community.”
Hyggen cautioned against judging community safety based solely on the CSI, noting Statistics Canada recommends considering the index alongside other measures of crime and public safety.
“There will always be still a lot of work to be done in Lethbridge. I’m not here to say that everything is fixed and everything is better,” he said. “But we’re pleased at the way that we have been trending down.”
He credited not only police enforcement but also city-led public safety initiatives, including work by the community and social development department, the encampment strategy, housing initiatives and the city’s community safety planning.
Mehdizadeh credited the decline in overall crime to proactive policing, intelligence-led enforcement and partnerships with community organizations.
“We are not just waiting, but we are actually going after people who are committing crime and victimizing our citizens,” he said. “It’s all about holding people more accountable.”
The police chief and mayor pointed to bail reform as an area requiring continued attention.
Mehdizadeh said police are encouraged by recent federal changes to bail and sentencing laws, including provisions aimed at repeat violent offenders and retail theft, but stressed the service will continue focusing on repeat offenders regardless of legislative changes.
“Regardless of what happens in areas where we have no control, we will continue to do what we have to do to hold these individuals accountable,” he said.
Hyggen said discussions with federal officials have left him optimistic that further changes are coming.
“Bail reform is something that has been on all of our minds for quite some time,” he said. “I’m optimistic.”
Mehdizadeh said he remains optimistic about public safety despite fluctuations in serious crime statistics. He said police are continuously working to implement additional initiatives to make the city safer.
