45 15St W, Prince Albert SK S6V3P4
Emergency: 
PAPS Responding to More Weapons and Violent Crime
The Prince Albert Police Service responded to an increased number of calls for service as specialized units worked to investigate violent crime, drug and illegal gang activity, mischief and property theft, and proactively address crime trends.
Statistics to the end of December 2022 show the Prince Albert Police Service received just over 46,000 total calls last year, an increase over the previous year when 45,566 calls were received.
Officers responded to more violent crime, assaults, and robberies in 2022, and a higher number of incidents involving weapons. The majority of incidents involved physical force, followed by knives in 186 instances, bear spray in 111 reports, threats in 100 instances, and firearms, which were reported in 72 incidents last year.
Tragically, there were nine homicides in 2022. Investigators have laid charges in five homicides, and two have been concluded with no charges. Two homicides remain under investigation. A review of relationships between homicide victims and accused since 2018 show the majority continue to involve people who are known to each other or are gang related.
Updates to statistical reporting were made in 2022 to reflect the most serious reported incidents, and more accurately report the number of victims of violent crime in our community. The number of victims of assault rose to 1328 in 2022, representing the highest number of victims of assault in five years. The majority of victims of assault were women. Last year, 269 assaults involved intimate partner violence (IPV) with 77 leading to charges and 21 still under investigation. In 58 instances, the complainant declined to proceed. The number of victims of sexual violations increased by just over 10%, with 138 victims reported in 2022, compared to 125 in 2021.
Police investigated 1,451 reports of missing persons in 2022, an increase over 1048 in 2021. In 2022, police officers responded to 760 mental health incidents, this includes 240 incidents where our Police and Crisis Team (PACT) responded. PACT pairs mental health professionals with police officers to respond to calls involving individuals in crisis to ensure safety and help connect them with additional supports.
Officers responded to 7,514 calls involving evictions, or requests to have someone escorted from a business or property, an increase of more than 58% over the previous year.
Arrests related to intoxication made up the majority of arrests in 2022.
Our online reporting options were updated in 2022 to make it more convenient for businesses and residents to report crime or suspicious activity to police, including shoplifting and fuel theft. All online reports submitted through our website at www.papolice.ca are investigated by police officers.
The police service added 12 new recruits to our Patrol division over the past year, four of whom are currently in training. One experienced member with 19 years of prior experience joined our team in 2022, and one Community Safety Officer was hired. To date, the Prince Albert Police Service has filled 105 of 106 total authorized police positions.
Statistical data for the year 2022 is included on the agenda for the next public meeting of the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners, which is scheduled for January 17.
