Medicine Hat has crime close to the Alberta average: the Medicine Hat Police Service area had a Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 94.4 in 2025, up 11% from 84.7 in 2024, about 4% above Alberta’s 90.6 and 26% above Canada’s 75.0, according to Statistics Canada. Its violent crime rate is almost exactly the national rate; the rise in 2025 came from property crime, especially break-ins and shoplifting.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Table 35-10-0190-01 (Crime Severity Index, police services in Alberta) and Table 35-10-0183-01 (incidents and rates by violation, police services in Alberta), checked on 26 October 2026. Figures are for the Medicine Hat Police Service area. Ratios and the population estimate are our own calculation from Statistics Canada data. Updated 26 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Medicine Hat Police Service area’s Crime Severity Index was 94.41 in 2025, up from 84.74 in 2024 and the highest value since 2016 (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0190-01).
- Medicine Hat recorded 5,893 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a rate of 8,576 per 100,000 people, up 8% and about 54% above the national 5,585.
- Its violent crime rate of 1,435 per 100,000 was almost the same as Canada’s 1,443 and about 7% below Alberta’s 1,541 (our calculation).
- Break-ins rose 29% to 389 incidents, a rate about 2.1 times the national rate (Table 35-10-0183-01; our calculation).
- Medicine Hat’s vehicle-theft rate of 178 per 100,000 was about 44% below Alberta’s 317.
- Medicine Hat recorded no homicides in 2024 or 2025.
Is Medicine Hat dangerous compared with other Alberta cities?
Medicine Hat sits in the middle of Alberta’s larger cities: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 94.41 was the fifth lowest of the ten police service areas with more than 50,000 people, below Edmonton (103.86), Red Deer (114.36), Lethbridge (123.85) and Grande Prairie (143.20) but above Calgary (62.94), according to Statistics Canada (our ranking).
The Crime Severity Index is a Statistics Canada measure that weights each police-reported offence by its seriousness, with Canada in 2006 set at 100. Medicine Hat is a census agglomeration rather than a census metropolitan area (CMA), so it does not appear in rankings of the 41 CMAs; the figures here are for the area policed by the Medicine Hat Police Service, the city’s own municipal force. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Police service area | CSI 2025 | CSI 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airdrie (RCMP) | 42.67 | 43.27 | 3,943 |
| St. Albert (RCMP) | 52.27 | 59.71 | 5,156 |
| Calgary Police Service | 62.94 | 64.28 | 5,080 |
| Strathcona County (RCMP) | 71.76 | 66.36 | 6,554 |
| Medicine Hat Police Service | 94.41 | 84.74 | 8,576 |
| Edmonton Police Service | 103.86 | 111.11 | 7,833 |
| Lethbridge Police Service | 123.85 | 117.35 | 9,465 |
| Grande Prairie (RCMP) | 143.20 | 143.98 | 14,101 |
| Alberta | 90.62 | 97.00 | 7,390 |
| Canada | 75.01 | 78.84 | 5,585 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Tables 35-10-0190-01 and 35-10-0183-01, and the national release of 22 July 2026.
Medicine Hat moved against the provincial trend in 2025: Alberta’s CSI fell 7%, while Medicine Hat’s rose 11% (our calculation). Medicine Hat’s index was about 24% below Lethbridge’s, the other southern Alberta city with its own police force. For the province as a whole, see is Alberta safe? and our ranking of the safest towns in Alberta.
What is the crime rate in Medicine Hat?
The crime rate in Medicine Hat was 8,576 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 8% from 7,942 in 2024, about 54% above Canada’s 5,585 and 16% above Alberta’s 7,390 (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0183-01; ratios are our calculation). The city recorded 5,893 incidents, 482 more than in 2024.
| Offence | Medicine Hat incidents (2025) | Medicine Hat rate per 100,000 (2025) | Rate 2024 | Alberta rate (2025) | Canada rate (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code offences (excl. traffic) | 5,893 | 8,576 | 7,942 | 7,390 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 986 | 1,435 | 1,444 | 1,541 | 1,443 |
| Property crime | 3,628 | 5,280 | 4,400 | n/a | 3,141 |
| Shoplifting ($5,000 or under) | 544 | 792 | 577 | n/a | 502 |
| Breaking and entering | 389 | 566 | 442 | 410 | 264 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 122 | 178 | 154 | 317 | 201 |
| Homicide | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.77 | 1.61 |
Rates are per 100,000 population. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0183-01 (Medicine Hat municipal) and the 2025 release for Alberta and Canada. n/a = not in our data set for this guide.
The crime rate is the number of police-reported Criminal Code incidents, excluding traffic offences, per 100,000 residents. Statistics Canada’s counts imply a population of about 69,000 for the Medicine Hat police area in 2025 (our calculation: incidents divided by rate).
What kind of crime is most common in Medicine Hat?
Property crime is the most common type of crime in Medicine Hat: 3,628 of the 5,893 incidents recorded in 2025 (about 62%) were property crimes, and property incidents rose by 630 in a year, more than the overall increase of 482 (Statistics Canada; our calculation).
- Break-ins: 389 incidents, up from 301. The rate of 566 per 100,000 is about 2.1 times Canada’s 264 and 38% above Alberta’s 410. See break-ins in Canada and our home security tips.
- Shoplifting: 544 incidents, up from 393 (about 38% more); the rate of 792 per 100,000 is about 58% above the national 502. See shoplifting in Canada.
- Vehicle theft: 122 vehicles, up from 105. The rate of 178 per 100,000 is about 12% below Canada’s 201 and 44% below Alberta’s 317. See car theft in Canada.
- Violent crime: 986 incidents, a rate of 1,435 per 100,000, almost unchanged from 2024 and in line with the national 1,443. There were no homicides in 2024 or 2025.
Is crime in Medicine Hat going up or down?
Crime severity in Medicine Hat went up in 2025: the Crime Severity Index rose from 84.74 to 94.41, about 11%, its highest level since 2016, after staying between 79 and 87 from 2018 to 2024, according to Statistics Canada. The increase came from non-violent crime: the non-violent index rose about 17%, while the violent index fell about 3%.
| Year | Medicine Hat CSI | Violent CSI | Non-violent CSI | Weighted clearance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 76.9 | 67.4 | 80.2 | 55.9 |
| 2016 | 103.4 | 96.9 | 105.5 | 54.8 |
| 2019 | 85.7 | 74.3 | 89.7 | 49.4 |
| 2021 | 79.2 | 83.2 | 78.3 | 48.6 |
| 2023 | 82.7 | 80.2 | 84.4 | 37.5 |
| 2024 | 84.7 | 84.9 | 85.4 | 39.4 |
| 2025 | 94.4 | 82.6 | 99.9 | 36.2 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0190-01, Medicine Hat municipal.
Medicine Hat’s violent crime severity index of 82.6 is about 15% below Canada’s 97.2, while its non-violent index of 99.9 is about 50% above Canada’s 66.8 (our calculation). The weighted clearance rate, the severity-weighted share of incidents solved by police, was 36.2 in 2025, close to Canada’s 36.6 but well below Medicine Hat’s 55.9 in 2015. More in how many crimes are solved in Canada.
Using the 3-year method of our Crime Severity Index map (0.5 × 2025 + 0.3 × 2024 + 0.2 × 2023), Medicine Hat’s smoothed value is 89.17, about 1.15 times the national 77.41 calculated the same way — the “about average” band, because a single year’s jump counts for only half (our calculation).
How do I check crime near an address in Medicine Hat?
The Medicine Hat Police Service links to an interactive crime map, published on the City of Medicine Hat’s mapping site, from its home page (checked 26 October 2026).
- Start with the official numbers. Compare Medicine Hat with other places on our Canada crime map and in most dangerous cities in Alberta.
- Open the official map. Use the Medicine Hat crime map linked by the police service to look at recent incidents near a street. Locations on police maps are approximate.
- Visit at different times. Walk the street in the evening and at the weekend, and look at lighting and how sheds and garages are secured.
- Follow our step-by-step guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood.
How do I report a crime in Medicine Hat?
Medicine Hat Police Service accepts online reports for some property crimes under $5,000 with no suspects, and everything else is reported by phone at 403-529-8481, according to the MHPS (checked 26 October 2026).
- Online: theft from a vehicle or theft of property up to $5,000, mischief or vandalism to a vehicle or property, lost property (not government ID), attempted vehicle theft, break-ins to unlocked non-residential places such as sheds or storage lockers, mail and package theft, and stolen property offered for sale online.
- By phone (403-529-8481): break-ins to homes and businesses, lost passports and other government documents, and other property offences not on the online list.
- Collisions with no injuries: the Collision Reporting Centre, 403-581-1070.
- The police station is at 884 2 Street SE; the front counter is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Crimes in progress and emergencies: 911.
Is Medicine Hat safe to live in and visit?
Medicine Hat is a city where most residents go about daily life without incident. Its violent crime rate is at the national level, there were no homicides in 2024 or 2025, and its vehicle-theft rate is lower than in most of Alberta. The main risks are property crimes: lock doors and vehicles, keep valuables out of sight, and secure garages and sheds, since break-ins rose sharply in 2025. Statistics Canada notes that the CSI is not a complete safety score, and only about 29% of victimizations in Canada were reported to police in 2019.
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Medicine Hat crime FAQ
Is Medicine Hat, Alberta dangerous?
No more than most Alberta cities. Medicine Hat’s 2025 Crime Severity Index was 94.4, about 4% above Alberta’s 90.6, and its violent crime rate was almost the same as Canada’s. Property crime is the main issue.
What is the crime rate in Medicine Hat?
The Medicine Hat Police Service area recorded 8,576 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 8% from 7,942 in 2024.
Why did crime go up in Medicine Hat in 2025?
The statistics show the rise came from property crime: property incidents rose from 2,998 to 3,628, with more break-ins and shoplifting, while violent crime was flat. Statistics Canada does not publish causes.
Is Medicine Hat safer than Lethbridge?
Yes, on the official measures. In 2025 Medicine Hat’s CSI was 94.4, compared with 123.9 for the Lethbridge Police Service, and its crime rate was about 9% lower. Read is Lethbridge safe?
How many homicides were there in Medicine Hat in 2025?
The Medicine Hat Police Service area recorded no homicides in 2025 and none in 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Related: is Alberta safe? · safest towns in Alberta · is Grande Prairie safe? · Lethbridge crime map · is Calgary safe? · how to report a crime in Canada · Fort McMurray crime rate. In an emergency call 911.
