City of Victoria: 2022 – Q2

As part of our ongoing Open VicPD transparency initiative, we introduced Community Safety Report Cards as a way to keep everyone up to date with how the Victoria Police Department is serving the public.  These report cards, which are published quarterly in two community-specific versions (one for Victoria and one for Esquimalt), offer both quantitative and qualitative information about crime trends, operational incidents, and community engagement initiatives.  It is hoped that, through this proactive sharing of information, our citizens have a better understanding of how VicPD is working toward its strategic vision of “A Safer Community Together.”

Description

Charts (Victoria)

Calls for Service (Victoria)

Call for Service (CFS) are requests for services from, or reports to the police department that generate any action on the part of the police department or partner agency performing work on behalf of the police department (such as E-Comm 9-1-1).

CFS include recording a crime/incident for reporting purposes. CFS are not generated for proactive activities unless the officer generates a specific CFS report.

The types of calls are broken into six main categories: social order, violence, property, traffic, assist, and other.  For a list of calls within each of these call categories, please click here.

Annual trends show a decrease in total CFS in 2019 and 2020. Since January 2019, abandoned calls, which are included in the total number of calls and can often generate a police response, are no longer captured by the E-Comm 911/Police Dispatch Centre in the same way. This has significantly reduced the total number of CFS.  Also, policy changes with regard to abandoned 911 calls from cell phones occurred in July 2019, further reducing these CFS totals.  Additional factors that have reduced the number of 911 calls include increased education and changes to cell phone design so that emergency calls could no longer be activated by a one-button push.

These important changes are reflected in the following abandoned 911 call figures, which are included in the displayed CFS totals and are largely responsible for the recent decrease in total CFS:

2016 = 8,409
2017 = 7,576
2018 = 8,554
2019 = 4,411
2020 = 1,296

Victoria Total Calls for Service – By Category, Quarterly

Source: VicPD

Victoria Total Calls for Service – By Category, Annually

Source: VicPD

VicPD Jurisdiction Calls for Service – Quarterly

Source: VicPD

VicPD Jurisdiction Calls for Service – Annually

Source: VicPD

Crime Incidents – VicPD Jurisdiction

Number of Crime Incidents (VicPD Jurisdiction)

  • Violent Crime Incidents
  • Property Crime Incidents
  • Other Crime Incidents

These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.

Crime Incidents – VicPD Jurisdiction

Source: Statistics Canada

Response Time (Victoria)

Response time is defined as the time that elapses between the time a call is received to the time the first officer arrives on scene.

Charts reflect median response times for the following Priority One and Priority Two calls in Victoria.

Response Time – Victoria

Source: VicPD
NOTE: Times are displayed in minutes and second. For example, “8.48” indicates 8 minutes and 48 seconds.

Crime Rate (Victoria)

The crime rate, as published by Statistics Canada, is the number of Criminal Code violations (excluding traffic offences) per 100,000 population.

  • Total Crime (excluding traffic)
  • Violent Crime
  • Property Crime
  • Other Crime

Data Updated | For all data up to and including 2019, Statistics Canada reported VicPD’s data for its combined jurisdiction of Victoria and Esquimalt. Beginning in 2020, StatsCan is separating that data for both communities. Therefore, the charts for 2020 do not display data for past years as direct comparisons are not possible with this change of methodology. As data is added over successive years, however, year-to-year trends will be displayed.

These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.

Crime Rate – Victoria

Source: Statistics Canada

Crime Severity Index (Victoria & Esquimalt)

The crime severity index (CSI), as published by Statistics Canada, measures both the volume and severity of police-reported crime in Canada.  In the index, all crimes are assigned a weight by Statistics Canada based on their seriousness.  The level of seriousness is based on actual sentences handed down by the courts in all provinces and territories.

This chart shows the CSI for all municipal police services in BC as well as the provincial average for all police services.  For VicPD’s jurisdiction, the CSI for the City of Victoria and the Township of Esquimalt are shown separately, which is a feature that was first introduced with the release of 2020 data.  For historic CSI figures that show combined CSI data for VicPD’s jurisdiction of both Victoria and Esquimalt, click here VicPD 2019 Crime Severity Index (CSI).

These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.

Crime Severity Index – Victoria & Esquimalt

Source: Statistics Canada

Crime Severity Index (Non-Violent) – Victoria & Esquimalt

Source: Statistics Canada

Crime Severity Index (Violent) – Victoria & Esquimalt

Source: Statistics Canada

Weighted Clearance Rate (Victoria)

Clearance rates represent the proportion of criminal incidents solved by the police.

Data Updated | For all data up to and including 2019, Statistics Canada reported VicPD’s data for its combined jurisdiction of Victoria and Esquimalt. Beginning in 2020 data, StatsCan is separating that data for both communities. Therefore, the charts for 2020 do not display data for past years as direct comparisons are not possible with this change of methodology. As data is added over successive years, however, year-to-year trends will be displayed.

These charts reflect the most available data from Statistics Canada. The charts will be updated when new data is available.

Weighted Clearance Rate – Victoria

Source: Statistics Canada

Perception of Crime (Victoria)

Community and business survey data from 2021 as well as past community surveys: “Do you think that crime in Victoria has increased, decreased or remained the same during the last 5 years?”

Perception of Crime  – Victoria

Source: VicPD

Block Watch (Victoria)

This chart shows the numbers of active blocks in the VicPD Block Watch program.

Block Watch – Victoria

Source: VicPD

Public Satisfaction (Victoria)

Public satisfaction with VicPD (community and business survey data from 2021 as well as past community surveys): “Overall, how satisfied are you with the work of the Victoria Police?”

Public Satisfaction – Victoria

Source: VicPD

Perception of Accountability (Victoria)

Perception of accountability of VicPD officers from community and business survey data from 2021 as well as past community surveys: “Based on your own personal experience, or what you may have read or heard, please indicate whether you agree or disagree that the Victoria Police is accountable.”

Perception of Accountability – Victoria

Source: VicPD

Documents Released to the Public

These charts show the number of community updates (news releases) and reports published, as well the number of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that are released.

Documents Released to the Public

Source: VicPD

FOI Documents Released

Source: VicPD

Overtime Costs (VicPD)

  • Investigation and specialized units (This includes investigations, specialized units, protests and other)
  • Staff shortage (Cost associated with replacing absent staff, normally for last minute injury or illness)
  • Statutory holiday (Mandatory overtime costs for staff working Statutory Holidays)
  • Recovered (This is related to special duties and overtime for seconded specialty units where all costs are recovered from outside funding resulting in no additional cost to VicPD)

Overtime Costs (VicPD) in dollars ($)

Source: VicPD

Public Safety Campaigns (VicPD)

The number of public safety campaigns initiated by VicPD and those local, regional, or national campaigns supported by, but not necessarily initiated by VicPD.

Public Safety Campaigns (VicPD)

Source: VicPD

Police Act Complaints (VicPD)

Total files opened by the Professional Standards office. Open files do not necessarily result in an investigation of any type. (Source: Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner)

  • Admissible registered complaints (complaints resulting in a formal Police Act investigation)
  • Number of reported substantiated investigations (Police Act investigations that resulted in one or more counts of misconduct being established)

Police Act Complaints (VicPD)

Source: Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner of BC
NOTE: Dates below are provincial government fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) i.e. “2019” indicates April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.

Case Load per Officer (VicPD)

The average number of criminal files assigned to each officer.  The average is calculated by dividing the total number of files by the authorized strength of the police Department (Source: Police Resources in BC, Province of British Columbia).

This chart reflects the latest data available. The charts will be updated when new data is available.

Case Load per Officer (VicPD)

Source: Police Resources in BC

Time Loss in Shifts (VicPD)

VicPD’s operational effectiveness can be, and has been, affected by having employees unable to work. The loss of time recorded in this chart includes both physical and mental health injuries which occur in the workplace. This does not include time lost for off-duty injury or illness, parental leave, or leaves of absence. This chart shows this time loss in terms of shifts lost by both officers and civilian employees by calendar year.

Time Loss in Shifts (VicPD)

Source: VicPD

Deployable Officers (% of total strength)

This is the percentage of officers who are fully deployable to policing duties with no restrictions.

Please note: This is a Point-in-Time calculation each year, as the actual number fluctuates widely throughout the year.

Deployable Officers (% of total strength)

Source: VicPD

Volunteer / Reserve Constable Hours (VicPD)

This is the number of volunteer hours annually performed by volunteers and Reserve Constables.

Volunteer / Reserve Constable Hours (VicPD)

Source: VicPD

Training Hours per Officer (VicPD)

Average training hours is calculated by the total number of hours of training divided by the authorized strength.  All training is accounted for including training related to specialized positions such as the Emergency Response Team, and off-duty training required under the Collective Agreement.

Training Hours per Officer (VicPD)

Source: VicPD

Source: VicPD

Victoria Community Information

VicPD continues to make progress towards our three main strategic goals outlined in VicPD Strategic Plan 2020. Specifically, in Q2, the following goal-specific work was accomplished:

Support Community Safety

  • The most important event related to community safety occurred on June 28th when three VicPD officers were among the six officers who were shot while responding to two heavily armed suspects at a bank in Saanich.

  • The Patrol Division continues to manage a heavy call load despite staffing shortages, but remains hopeful that additional resources are forthcoming.

  • Volunteer programs, including Crime Watch, Cell Watch, and Speed Watch, have resumed normal operations and have received very positive feedback from the public as a result.

Enhance Public Trust

  • The Saanich shooting incident, despite its associated tragedies, also served to bring our community closer together and VicPD is deeply appreciative of all of the support shown to us by the community.

  • VicPD launched the VicPD Indigenous Heritage Crest on National Indigenous Peoples Day in June. VicPD’s Indigenous Engagement Team of First Nations and Metis members who have ancestral ties to the Cree, Kaska, Dena, Mi’kmaq, Mohawk, Naskapi and Ojibwe nations created VicPD’s crest to honour the Indigenous heritage of those who serve our communities as VicPD officers, civilian employees, special municipal constables, jail staff, and volunteers.

  • VicPD completed another successful annual community survey project in June. Key findings include an 82% overall satisfaction rate with VicPD’s service, and 93% of respondents agreeing that “police and citizens working together can make this a better place to live and work.”

Achieve Organizational Excellence

  • More than ever, the Saanich shooting incident highlighted the need to care for our people. A significant collective effort was immediately launched to look after the physical and mental needs of everyone involved, a process that remains in effect on a daily basis as our recovery continues.

  • In Q2, an increased emphasis was placed on attracting qualified candidates to join VicPD as officers, civilian employees, special municipal constables, jail staff, and volunteers. This has taken the form of a recruiting presence at community and sporting events as well as a refreshed recruiting website and streamlined application process.

  • Implementation of a new Human Resources Information System continues, which promises to streamline a variety of processes (including recruiting) across the organization.

Q2 of 2022 saw the successful completion of key engagement projects like the 2022 VicPD Community Survey and #Warrant Wednesday, but also saw response to significant increases in random attacks and a nine-week series of incidents involving violence and vandalism related to large groups of youths gathering with drugs, alcohol and weapons in downtown Victoria.

One of the most important, but most challenging moments of the quarter came on June 28th, when three VicPD officers were among six GVERT officers shot while responding to two heavily armed suspects at a bank in Saanich. In addition to providing direct operational and communications support to our Saanich Police Department partners as part of the immediate response to the incident, the Public Affairs section of the Community Engagement team continues to support the ongoing investigation and respond to community concern and the tremendous outpouring of community support.

A young girl wears a blue heart in support of GVERT officers

VicPD launched the VicPD Indigenous Heritage Crest. VicPD’s Indigenous Engagement Team of First Nations and Metis members who have ancestral ties to the Cree, Kaska, Dena, Mi’kmaq, Mohawk, Naskapi and Ojibwe nations created VicPD’s crest to honour the Indigenous heritage of those who serve our communities as VicPD officers, civilian employees, special municipal constables, jail staff, and volunteers.

Acclaimed educator and master carver Yux’wey’lupton launches the VicPD Indigenous Engagement Crest with Det. Cst. Sandi Haney and Cst. Cam MacIntyre

The VicPD Indigenous Heritage Crest was designed by acclaimed educator and master carver Yux’wey’lupton, a true visionary guide and knowledge-keeper, known widely by his English name, Clarence “Butch” Dick. Butch was also instrumental in helping design our VicPD crest, which prominently features the Sta’qeya, or Coast Salish wolf, as a way to represent our connection to the traditional Lekwungen territories where we live and work.

Nine weeks of violence and vandalism associated with groups of youths, primarily from municipalities outside of Victoria and Esquimalt, gathering downtown with weapons drugs and alcohol saw swarming attacks on a couple, an unhoused couple, an officer in the process of making a lawful arrest and a 72-year-old man, who was left with significant facial injuries.

Officers and staff from across VicPD, including the Community Services Division (CSD), Patrol Division, Investigative Services Division (ISD) and Community Engagement Division (CED) all responded. The response included direct outreach and engagement with partners including the Saanich Police Department, Oak Bay Police, the Central Saanich Police Service, West Shore RCMP and Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, as well as school districts across the regions including SD61, SD62 and SD63, private schools, municipalities, youth probation, community groups, parents, families and youths themselves to foster short, medium and long-term solutions. Our response included a series of #VicPDLive tweetalongs on our VicPD Canada Twitter account. Community Engagement supported the enforcement and engagement portion of the operation as part of the response that resulted in 60 investigations and 24 arrests ranging from public intoxication to possession of weapons, assault, assault with a weapon, and mischief. The final two weeks of the enforcement period saw no significant incidents.

With 1,300 2022 VicPD Community Survey responses, we continued our extensive engagements with the communities of Victoria and Esquimalt. Key findings include an 82% overall satisfaction rate, and 93% of overall respondents agreeing that “Police and citizens working together can make this a better place to live and work.” The rigorous survey process and statistically significant sample means that the survey reflects the responses of nearly 12 out of every 1,000 Victoria and Esquimalt residents.

Many of the survey responses did not see significant changes from last year’s results. However, we continue to see that only 37% of respondents feel safe in downtown Victoria or Esquimalt Plaza at night.

Random attacks emerged as a serious community safety issue this quarter. The attacks included the random targeting of people downtown with bear spray, a man randomly punched in the face on Dallas Road, a woman suffering head injuries after being randomly attacked from behind in James Bay, a man randomly attacking kitchen staff in a downtown restaurant after entering through a staff-only door, a man left with significant burns after being attacked by a woman on Blanshard Street, and a suspect arrested after striking a father walking with his child in a stroller. The Community Engagement team assisted in keeping the public informed and assisting investigators in the search for witnesses, video and other evidence and additional investigative and suspect information.

A series of arsons, including one at the residence of a Ukrainian Catholic Church priest’s family which saw responding Patrol officers give life-saving first aid to a young girl, struck across Victoria.

While there has been extensive damage and significant public concern, officers have made arrests in some of the files. The Community Engagement team continues to assist in supporting the ongoing investigations.

Early in the quarter, Strike Force seized 8 kilograms of deadly drugs including fentanyl, multiple firearms including assault rifles and over $100,000 in cash as part of an investigation into suspected drug traffickers with ties to the Lower Mainland gang conflict who were operating in Victoria.

Working with information from VicPD’s Analysis and Intelligence Section (AIS), officers seized eight kilograms of drugs, including 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, and three kilograms of methamphetamine. In addition, officers sized eight rifles and one handgun, accompanied by magazines and ammunition, as well as more than $105,000 in Canadian currency.

Historical Case Review Unit investigators released new photographs of missing Esquimalt woman Belinda Cameron. Belinda Cameron was last seen on May 11th, 2005. Belinda was last seen at Esquimalt’s Shoppers Drug Mart in the 800-block of Esquimalt Road that day. Belinda was reported missing nearly a month later, on June 4th, 2005. Officers conducted an extensive investigation and a series of searches for Belinda. She has not been found.

Belinda’s disappearance is considered suspicious and investigators believe that Belinda was the victim of foul play. Her disappearance continues to be investigated as a homicide.

The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions saw an enthusiastic return to in-person engagement this quarter. The Community Engagement section either conducts these engagements directly or provides support to partners from across the Department and other aligned partners like the VicPD Athletic Association.

Chief Manak joined students at George Jay Elementary to share the importance of reading during literacy week.

VicPD Traffic officers were glad to return to helping keep people safe during several marathons and races in Victoria. The return of the Times Colonist 10K was a particular highlight of this quarter.

The Community Engagement section partnered with the VicPD Athletic Association for several events, including the Memorial Golf Tournament were proud to award the VicPD Athletic Association’s Citizenship scholarship for distinguished athletic abilities & support for athletics, as well as outstanding school & community citizenship to Vic High’s Cameron Lalli.

Puppy socialization and adoption outreach continued our partnership with the Victoria Humane Society. These popular events are well-attended by officers and staff while helping to socialize puppies as they prepare to find their forever homes.

This quarter saw the launch of a close collaboration with VicPD’s Human Resources Section with a focus on recruiting the next generation of VicPD officers and staff. An extended recruitment campaign, which will run for 12-18 months, and include banners on VicPD Headquarters, targeted advertising in high-profile locations and in-person community engagement looks to continue VicPD’s history of hiring excellent people to join VicPD. Recruiting is a key focus for VicPD, with recruiting messaging now part of every email, a recruiting-centred refresh of VicPD.ca and more recruiting events to come.

For more notable files, please visit our community updates page.

At the end of Q2 the net operating financial position is approximately 1.9% over budget, mostly due to temporary expenditures which we expect abate in the 2nd half of the year. Revenues are above budget due to recoveries of expenditures for special duties. Capital commitments are at 77% due to the carryover of purchases from 2021 but are expected to remain within budget. Salaries and benefits are high in the first two quarters due to the timing of benefit costs and are expected to fall below budget in the second half of the year. Overtime costs remain high as a result of maintaining front-line minimums whilst we continue to experience staffing shortages and work-related injuries. A portion of the requested overtime budget was not approved by councils which will contribute to overtime overages. Other expenditures, except retirements, were in line with expectations and expected to remain within budget.