File Photo (Image Credit: Contributed / Tracy Mourre)

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: Shedding the ‘Crime Capital’ title no reason for Kamloops to rest on our laurels

Jul 25, 2025 | 12:30 PM

WE TALK ABOUT CRIME using two methods in Kamloops.

One is anecdotal, sharing stories from people and businesses who have fallen victim.

The second is more empirical, through statistics and reports.

Neither method is perfect, as they can both hide as much as they reveal.

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For example on the statistical side, we learned this week that Kamloops has fallen off of the top spot in the nation in both crime rate and Crime Severity Index.

While that’s good news, there are suggestions from both business groups and the head of the Kamloops RCMP detachment that the numbers may be hiding a trend of underreporting.

There’s no way to prove a negative so that notion will remain anecdotal, but it would be hard to blame a business owner who has been hit over and over again for deciding not to bother with a police report.

The evidence it will change anything is thin.

Staying quiet doesn’t change anything, either. It’s tantamount to giving up but at least the business owner can move on with their life.

At committee this week, Supt. Jeff Pelley said Criminal Code calls had increased around the Tranquille corridor but were down in Valleyview and West Victoria.

The main crimes being investigated are mischief, causing a disturbance and theft. These are crimes of annoyance and aggravation, crimes of expense and exasperation more than devastation — but they are crimes nonetheless.

While Kamloops is no longer the Crime Capital of Canada, we’re still on the podium so there’s scarcely reason for us to brag.

We’re third in crime rate and second in Crime Severity Index.

Remaining that close to the top should be cold comfort for the residents of this city. The goal is to be nowhere near the podium.

The safest cities in Canada, according to the statistics, are Sherbrooke, Quebec and Barrie, Ontario.

Those communities seem to have made some progress, even if they aren’t utopias.

The anecdotes from business owners and residents in those cities would undoubtedly echo what we are hearing here in Kamloops — that nuisance crime is not giving certain business owners any peace.

We won’t be happy until our crime rate is zero — nor should we be.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.