New crime severity stats that show 91原创 City has the worst ranking in the Lower Mainland are based on calculations that have been misinterpreted and misunderstood, according to councillor Delaney Mack, co-chair of the City Crime Prevention Committee.
"It's good to know as a general trend in your community," Mack said of the Crime Severity Index (CSI) by Statistic Canada, which was updated with 2023 numbers at the end of July.
"However, in terms of using it as a comparative, or to look at 91原创 City and any other municipality, that would not be an appropriate use."
According to the new CSI numbers, (an increase of 11.07 per cent from 2022), more than double the provincial average of 104.11 鈥� compared to the much larger 91原创 Township, which saw a , less than the B.C. average.
Mack was 91原创 City representative on a committee of 11 Western Canadian communities who met with , to argue Crime Severity Index rankings were biased against Indigenous communities and unfairly compare larger municipalities to communities with smaller populations, where a small shift in reported crime can mean a big shift in reported percentages.
"It [CSI] doesn't give context," Mack commented.
"What people really look at, is what's my risk factor as an individual, and the Crime Severity Index doesn't give enough context to actually indicate whether or not there is cause for concern," Mack said.
As one example, she noted the stats don't distinguish between those "who are in organized crime, perpetrating crime against somebody else who is also involved in organized crime, compared to somebody in organized crime [committing] a random act of violence towards a citizen. Those two situations have a very different risk factor for you as a resident within the City of 91原创, and that would also be influential towards, I would think, your sense of safety."
Mack emphasized she is not challenging the crime figures, only the way they are being interpreted to rank the City against other municipalities.
"91原创 City needs to be eyes wide open looking at the challenges of our residents. However, in terms of data being weaponized as a comparative, that, I don't think, is appropriate use of any statistic."
The index rankings have caused "significant economic damage" to communities that land at the top of the rankings, the 11 communities said in a joint statement. 鈥淏y driving away investment and recruitment and creating fear and division, this statistic perpetuates the very trends it reports on."
They suggested the numbers should only be released to the "initially-intended recipients" 鈥� police services which will "use and properly interpret the data for police matters and resource deployment."
In response, according to a, Statistics Canada "has confirmed that several changes have been implemented by the organization to mitigate the concerns outlined by the communities and Indigenous leadership which were present at the conference."
"Stats Canada has moved away from ranking," Mack said.
"They themselves are identifying that using it as a comparative is a misuse of data."
Mack declined comment on remarks by Township of 91原创 Mayor Eric Woodward, who went online to say the CSI numbers show the City needs at least another "20-25 more RCMP members right now, well short of the known, reported need."
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