Crime rates declining in Greater Vernon, calls for service up in Coldstream and Vernon Rural

May 27, 2024 | 11:46 AM

The number of crimes local police responded to fell on an annual basis in the first three months of the year.

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP’s quarterly report on crime stats showed a total of 1,248 criminal code violations in Vernon between January 1 and March 31 of this year, marking a 6.6 per cent decline from the same period of 2023.

There were 53 criminal code violations in Coldstream and 52 in Vernon Rural during that same period, down 1.8 and 26.7 per cent, respectively, from the first quarter (Q1) of 2023.

There were also 694 property offences in Vernon, 29 in Coldstream and 19 in Vernon Rural, marking declines of 6.2, 25.6 and 64.1 per cent.

Police responded to 4,062 calls for service in Vernon during Q1, down by 5.9 per cent from the previous year.

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

3h ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

However, Coldstream’s calls increased by 3.6 per cent to 287 in Q1, while Vernon Rural saw a 1.9 per cent increase in calls for service, bringing that areas total up to 359.

The police stats say the calls in Vernon and Coldstream resulted in 345 reports being filed with Crown Counsel, which were up 82.5 per cent compared to reports filed during Q1 of 2023.

The stats showed that officers responded to 479 mental health calls and that 218 prisoners were taken into custody. Mental health calls were up 17.4 per cent on an annual basis, while the number of prisoners taken into custody had increased by 9.17 per cent.

Though the overall crime rates fell in Vernon, there were some file types that saw increases in Q1 of this year.

The RCMP’s report for Vernon showed a total of 183 assaults, including domestic assaults, in Q1, up from 138 during the same period of 2023. Domestic violence cases also increased from 23 in Q1 of 2023 to 33 during the same period this year.

Break and enter into commercial buildings also increased from 19 to 39; theft under $5,000 cases rose from 275 to 282; and motor vehicle accidents increased to 114 from 94 cases the year prior.

Meanwhile, theft from vehicles in Vernon fell from 59 to 49; drug offences declined from 49 to 26, while liquor offences dropped from 33 to 30; and theft of vehicles declined from 34 in Q1 of 2023 to 21 in the same period this year.

The RCMP’s traffic enforcement unit also issued 339 violation tickets and 337 warnings in Vernon, marking declines of 13.52 and 45.38 per cent, respectively, when compared to the same period of 2023. In Coldstream, there were 79 traffic violation tickets issued in Q1, up 5.33 per cent from the year prior, though the number of warnings fell by 53 per cent to 62.

The RCMP’s quarterly report noted some of the major incidents officers responded to in Q1 included arresting a man who allegedly discharged a firearm in the Middleton area; an alleged aggravated assault involving two men in downtown Vernon; a man allegedly assaulting another person in Vernon using brass knuckles; and cordoning off an area of Kalamalka Park so the Canadian Forces Explosive Disposal Unit could dispose of suspected unexploded ordnances in the area.

As part of the RCMP’s overdose crisis response program, officers provided 41 high risk individuals with information cards, and police also handed out 34 Naloxone kits. The police did not refer anyone to treatment, show information videos, or provide nursing care in cells during Q1 of this year.

The Q1 policing report will be presented to Vernon City Council for information at the regular meeting Monday, May 27.

by Liam Verster

View Comments