Yes, Saanich is one of the safest places in British Columbia: the Saanich Police Department area had a Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 39.95 in 2025, about 47% below Canada’s 75.0 and 57% below B.C.’s 92.4, according to Statistics Canada. Its crime rate of 3,101 incidents per 100,000 people was about 44% below the national rate, although the index rose 8% from 2024.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Table 35-10-0063-01 (Crime Severity Index and weighted clearance rates, police services in British Columbia) and Table 35-10-0184-01 (incidents and rates by violation, police services in British Columbia), checked on 30 October 2026. Figures are for the District of Saanich, served by the Saanich Police Department. Percentage changes, ratios and the population estimate are our own calculation from Statistics Canada data. Updated 30 October 2026.
Key facts
- Saanich had a Crime Severity Index of 39.95 in 2025, up from 37.01 in 2024, an increase of about 8% (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01; our calculation).
- That is about 47% below Canada’s CSI of 75.0, 57% below B.C.’s 92.4 and 46% below the Victoria census metropolitan area’s 74.6 (our calculation).
- Saanich ranked 6th of 60 B.C. police areas serving 10,000 people or more, and 2nd among B.C. municipalities with over 100,000 people, after North Vancouver District (35.69).
- Saanich recorded 3,907 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a rate of 3,101 per 100,000 people, compared with 5,585 for Canada and 6,943 for B.C.
- Motor vehicle theft in Saanich fell 29% to 32 vehicles in 2025, a rate of 25 per 100,000, about one-eighth of the national 201.
- Saanich’s weighted clearance rate was 31.3 in 2025, up from 27.4 in 2024 but below Canada’s 36.6 (Statistics Canada).
Is Saanich safer than Victoria?
Saanich is much safer than the City of Victoria on the official measure: the Saanich Police Department’s 2025 Crime Severity Index of 39.95 was about a quarter of the 161.18 recorded by the Victoria Police Department for the City of Victoria, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation). Saanich is the largest municipality in Greater Victoria and part of the Victoria census metropolitan area (CMA), whose index was 74.6 in 2025.
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. A census metropolitan area (CMA) is a whole metro region, so the Victoria CMA figure mixes the downtown core with suburbs such as Saanich, Oak Bay and Esquimalt. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method, and is Victoria, BC safe? covers the city and the metro area.
| Police area (Greater Victoria) | Crime Severity Index (2025) |
|---|---|
| Oak Bay (municipal police) | 25.90 |
| North Saanich (RCMP municipal) | 37.27 |
| Saanich (municipal police) | 39.95 |
| Central Saanich (municipal police) | 40.21 |
| Esquimalt (Victoria Police, Esquimalt Division) | 40.99 |
| Victoria CMA (whole metro area) | 74.57 |
| City of Victoria (Victoria Police Department) | 161.18 |
| British Columbia | 92.37 |
| Canada | 75.01 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01 (police services in British Columbia, checked 30 October 2026) and Table 35-10-0026-01 for the Victoria CMA, B.C. and Canada.
Most of Greater Victoria’s suburban police areas sit between 25 and 41 on the index, while the City of Victoria’s core is far higher. For the full provincial ranking see safest towns in BC, safest cities in BC and most dangerous cities in BC.
What is the crime rate in Saanich?
The crime rate in Saanich was 3,101 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, about 44% below Canada’s 5,585, about 55% below B.C.’s 6,943 and about 44% below the Victoria CMA’s 5,588 (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0184-01; comparisons are our calculation). The rate rose about 5% from 2,961 in 2024.
| Offence | Saanich incidents (2025) | Saanich rate per 100,000 (2025) | Saanich rate (2024) | Victoria CMA rate (2025) | Canada rate (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code offences (excl. traffic) | 3,907 | 3,101 | 2,961 | 5,588 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 1,207 | 958 | 815 | 1,542 | 1,443 |
| Property crime | 2,374 | 1,884 | 1,837 | n/a | 3,141 |
| Breaking and entering | 148 | 117 | 101 | 192 | 262 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 32 | 25 | 36 | 71 | 201 |
| Shoplifting ($5,000 or under) | 456 | 362 | 291 | 596 | 502 |
| Homicide | 1 | 0.79 | 0.00 | 0.90 | 1.61 |
Rates are per 100,000 population. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0184-01 (Saanich municipal police service) and Table 35-10-0177-01 for the Victoria CMA and Canada. n/a = not compiled 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 126,000 for the Saanich police area in 2025 (our calculation: incidents divided by rate). To compare Saanich with large cities, see crime rate in Canada by city.
What kind of crime is most common in Saanich?
Property crime is the most common type of crime in Saanich: 2,374 of the 3,907 incidents recorded in 2025 (about 61%) were property offences, and 1,207 (about 31%) were violent offences (Statistics Canada; our calculation).
- Violent crime: 958 incidents per 100,000, up about 18% from 2024 but about 34% below the national 1,443 and 38% below the Victoria CMA’s 1,542. Most violent incidents in Canada are lower-level assaults and threats; see violent crime in Canada by city.
- Break-ins: 148 incidents, 117 per 100,000, up from 127 incidents in 2024 but about 55% below the national 262. See break-ins in Canada.
- Vehicle theft: 32 vehicles, down from 45. The rate of 25 per 100,000 is about 87% below the national 201. See car theft in Canada.
- Shoplifting: 456 incidents, up about 24% from 367, a rate of 362 per 100,000, still about 28% below the national 502. See shoplifting in Canada.
- Homicide: 1 homicide in 2025, after none in 2024.
Is crime in Saanich going up or down?
Crime severity in Saanich rose slightly in 2025 but remains below its level of a decade ago: the Crime Severity Index increased about 8% to 39.95 after falling to 37.01 in 2024, and it is about 5% below its 2015 value of 42.12 and about 26% below its 2022 peak of 53.72 (Statistics Canada; our calculation).
| Year | Saanich CSI | Violent CSI | Non-violent CSI | Weighted clearance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 42.12 | 39.29 | 43.07 | 28.62 |
| 2017 | 37.11 | 39.04 | 36.33 | 31.80 |
| 2019 | 47.80 | 41.99 | 49.78 | 27.18 |
| 2020 | 48.80 | 40.71 | 51.60 | 25.45 |
| 2021 | 48.38 | 55.94 | 45.77 | 27.16 |
| 2022 | 53.72 | 84.94 | 41.69 | 36.18 |
| 2023 | 44.51 | 47.73 | 43.60 | 24.30 |
| 2024 | 37.01 | 46.59 | 33.49 | 27.36 |
| 2025 | 39.95 | 54.91 | 34.30 | 31.25 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01, Saanich municipal police service.
The 2025 increase came mostly from violent crime. Saanich’s violent index rose about 18% to 54.91, but it is still about 44% below Canada’s 97.2, while the non-violent index edged up about 2% to 34.30, about 49% below the national 66.8 (our calculation). The weighted clearance rate is the severity-weighted share of incidents solved by police; Saanich’s rose to 31.25 in 2025 from 27.36. More in how many crimes are solved in Canada. In a community this size, a handful of serious incidents can move the index, so one year is not a trend.
Is there a Saanich crime map?
We did not find a public crime map on the Saanich Police Department website when we checked on 30 October 2026; the site offers online incident reporting and non-emergency reporting instead. These steps are the most reliable way to check an area:
- Start with the official numbers. Compare Saanich with other areas on our Canada crime map and in crime rate by province.
- Check which police service covers the address. Saanich, Oak Bay, Central Saanich and Victoria/Esquimalt each have their own municipal police; North Saanich and Sidney are policed by the RCMP. Our Victoria crime map guide explains what is published for Greater Victoria.
- Report and ask locally. Use the Saanich Police online incident reporting page or the non-emergency line, 250-475-4321, for questions about a street.
- Follow our step-by-step guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood.
Is Saanich safe to live in and visit?
Saanich is a very safe place to live and visit by Canadian standards: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 39.95 was about half the national 75.0, and its break-in and vehicle-theft rates were more than half below the national averages. The most common practical risks are thefts and online or phone scams. Lock your car, keep valuables out of sight and take basic steps at home; see our home security tips and fraud and scams in Canada. For the whole province, see is BC safe? Statistics Canada notes that the CSI is not a complete safety score and that only about 29% of victimizations in Canada were reported to police in 2019.
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Saanich crime FAQ
Is Saanich, BC dangerous?
No. Saanich’s 2025 Crime Severity Index was 39.95, about 47% below the national 75.0 and 57% below B.C.’s 92.4, according to Statistics Canada.
What is the crime rate in Saanich?
The Saanich police area recorded 3,101 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 5% from 2,961 in 2024 and about 44% below Canada’s rate of 5,585.
Is Saanich safer than Victoria?
Yes, on the official figures. In 2025 Saanich’s Crime Severity Index was 39.95 and the Victoria Police Department’s index for the City of Victoria was 161.18, about four times higher.
Does Saanich have a crime map?
We did not find a public crime map on the Saanich Police website on 30 October 2026. Statistics Canada’s police-service tables are the best official source for Saanich-wide crime figures.
How many homicides were there in Saanich in 2025?
The Saanich police area recorded 1 homicide in 2025, a rate of 0.79 per 100,000, after none in 2024.
Related: is Victoria, BC safe? · Victoria crime map · safest towns in BC · is Nanaimo safe? · is Kelowna safe? · how to report a crime in Canada. In an emergency call 911.