Prince George has one of the highest crime levels of any city in British Columbia: the Prince George RCMP municipal area had a Crime Severity Index (CSI) of 193.8 in 2025, down about 3% from 200.7 in 2024 but about 2.6 times the national 75.0, according to Statistics Canada. Its crime rate was 17,315 incidents per 100,000 people. Most incidents are property crimes, and severity has fallen about 24% since its 2019 peak.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Table 35-10-0063-01 (Crime Severity Index by police service, British Columbia) and Table 35-10-0184-01 (incidents and rates by violation, British Columbia police services), checked on 26 October 2026. Figures are for the Prince George RCMP municipal police service area. Ratios and the population estimate are our own calculation from Statistics Canada data. Updated 26 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Prince George RCMP municipal area’s Crime Severity Index was 193.75 in 2025, down from 200.69 in 2024 (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01).
- That is about 2.6 times Canada’s CSI of 75.0 and about 2.1 times British Columbia’s 92.4 (our calculation).
- Prince George recorded 14,881 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a rate of 17,315 per 100,000 people, down 4% from 18,029.
- Property crime made up about 58% of incidents (8,562), and violent crime about 19% (2,815) (our calculation).
- Prince George recorded 1 homicide in 2025, down from 7 in 2024.
- The CSI peaked at 253.49 in 2019; the 2025 value is about 24% lower.
Is Prince George dangerous compared with other BC cities?
Prince George has a higher Crime Severity Index than any of BC’s large cities: its 2025 value of 193.8 was above Victoria’s police service area (161.2), Richmond (151.8), Chilliwack (134.4), Kamloops (134.0) and Kelowna (116.0), according to Statistics Canada. Several smaller northern and interior cities, including Quesnel, Williams Lake and Dawson Creek, scored higher still.
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. Prince George 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 Prince George RCMP municipal detachment. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Police service area (2025) | Crime Severity Index | CSI 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Quesnel (RCMP, municipal) | 253.7 | n/a |
| Williams Lake (RCMP, municipal) | 220.4 | n/a |
| Dawson Creek (RCMP, municipal) | 215.2 | n/a |
| Prince George (RCMP, municipal) | 193.8 | 200.7 |
| Fort St. John (RCMP, municipal) | 182.6 | n/a |
| Prince Rupert (RCMP, municipal) | 165.6 | n/a |
| Victoria (municipal police) | 161.2 | 152.2 |
| Kamloops (RCMP, municipal) | 134.0 | n/a |
| Kelowna (RCMP, municipal) | 116.0 | 121.5 |
| Vancouver (municipal police) | 89.3 | 93.9 |
| British Columbia | 92.4 | 93.9 |
| Canada | 75.0 | 78.8 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01. n/a = not in our data set for this guide.
Northern BC cities stand out: all six of the highest values in this table are in northern BC or the Cariboo. For the wider picture see most dangerous cities in BC and our ranking of the safest towns in BC.
What is the crime rate in Prince George?
The crime rate in Prince George was 17,315 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, about 3.1 times Canada’s 5,585 and about 2.5 times British Columbia’s 6,943 (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0184-01; ratios are our calculation). The area recorded 14,881 incidents, down from 15,279 in 2024.
| Offence | Prince George incidents (2025) | Prince George rate per 100,000 (2025) | Rate 2024 | BC rate (2025) | Canada rate (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code offences (excl. traffic) | 14,881 | 17,315 | 18,029 | 6,943 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 2,815 | 3,275 | 3,335 | 1,531 | 1,443 |
| Property crime | 8,562 | 9,962 | 10,705 | 3,839 | 3,141 |
| Shoplifting ($5,000 or under) | 955 | 1,111 | 1,133 | 733 | 502 |
| Breaking and entering | 471 | 548 | 565 | 280 | 262 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 251 | 292 | 269 | 138 | 201 |
| Homicide (victims) | 1 | 1.16 | 8.26 | 1.81 | 1.61 |
Rates are per 100,000 population. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0184-01 (Prince George RCMP municipal and British Columbia) and the 2025 release for Canada.
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 86,000 for the Prince George municipal police area in 2025 (our calculation: incidents divided by rate). Because many people from surrounding communities work, shop and travel in the city, a per-resident rate can overstate the risk for residents.
What kind of crime is most common in Prince George?
Property crime is the most common type of crime in Prince George: 8,562 of the 14,881 incidents recorded in 2025 (about 58%) were property crimes, at a rate of 9,962 per 100,000, about 3.2 times the national rate (Statistics Canada; our calculation).
- Break-ins: 471 incidents, 548 per 100,000, about twice the national rate of 262 and BC’s 280. See break-ins in Canada.
- Vehicle theft: 251 vehicles, up from 228 (about 10% more). The rate of 292 per 100,000 is about 45% above the national 201 and about twice BC’s 138. See car theft in Canada.
- Shoplifting: 955 incidents, 1,111 per 100,000, about 2.2 times the national rate.
- Violent crime: 2,815 incidents, a rate of 3,275 per 100,000, about 2.3 times the national 1,443.
Is crime in Prince George going up or down?
Crime severity in Prince George is going down: the Crime Severity Index fell from a peak of 253.49 in 2019 to 193.75 in 2025, a decline of about 24%, and it dropped in 2024 and again in 2025, according to Statistics Canada. It is still about 36% above its 2015 level of 142.25.
| Year | Prince George CSI | Violent CSI | Non-violent CSI | Weighted clearance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 142.3 | 130.3 | 146.3 | 40.2 |
| 2017 | 167.6 | 163.7 | 168.6 | 43.3 |
| 2019 | 253.5 | 226.0 | 262.8 | 26.1 |
| 2021 | 232.5 | 247.4 | 228.5 | 28.2 |
| 2023 | 232.8 | 253.5 | 226.5 | 23.0 |
| 2024 | 200.7 | 241.1 | 186.2 | 29.3 |
| 2025 | 193.8 | 224.1 | 183.3 | 29.8 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01, Prince George RCMP municipal.
The violent crime severity index fell about 7% in 2025 (241.1 to 224.1) and the non-violent index about 2% (186.2 to 183.3). The weighted clearance rate is the severity-weighted share of incidents solved by police; in Prince George it was 29.8 in 2025, above BC’s 23.0 but below Canada’s 36.6. More in how many crimes are solved in Canada.
Is the area around Prince George safer than the city?
Yes, on the official measure: the rural area policed by the Prince George RCMP had a Crime Severity Index of 57.45 in 2025, below the national 75.0 and about 70% lower than the city’s 193.75 (Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0063-01; our calculation). The detachment serves Prince George city and rural areas, Hixon and the Shelley reserve, according to the RCMP. As in most places, incidents concentrate in the city, where shops, services, nightlife and transport hubs are.
How do I check crime near an address in Prince George?
The Prince George RCMP does not publish a public crime map on its detachment page, so the best checks are the official statistics, local news and police contacts (checked 26 October 2026).
- Start with the official numbers. Compare Prince George with other areas on our Canada crime map and in is BC safe?
- Contact the detachment. Prince George RCMP is at 455 Victoria Street; general line 250-561-3300 (Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm). Some crimes can be reported through the RCMP online crime reporting tool.
- Visit at different times. Walk the street in the evening and on a weekend, and look at parking, lighting and building security.
- Follow our step-by-step guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood.
Is Prince George safe to live in and visit?
Prince George is a city where most residents go about daily life without incident, but its police-reported crime is far above average, so practical precautions matter more than in most Canadian cities. The most likely problems are property crimes: break-ins, vehicle theft, theft from vehicles and shoplifting. Lock cars and keep valuables out of sight, secure sheds and garages, and use well-lit routes at night. See our home security tips and car theft prevention guides. 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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Prince George crime FAQ
Is Prince George, BC dangerous?
Prince George has high police-reported crime: its 2025 Crime Severity Index was 193.8, about 2.6 times the national 75.0. Most incidents are property crimes, and the index has fallen about 24% since 2019.
What is the crime rate in Prince George?
The Prince George RCMP municipal area recorded 17,315 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, down 4% from 18,029 in 2024 and about 3.1 times Canada’s rate.
Why is Prince George’s crime rate so high?
The statistics show that property crime drives the rate: 8,562 property incidents in 2025, about 58% of the total. Statistics Canada does not publish causes, and regional centres that serve a wide surrounding area tend to record more incidents per resident.
How many homicides were there in Prince George in 2025?
The Prince George RCMP municipal area recorded 1 homicide in 2025, a rate of 1.16 per 100,000, down from 7 homicides in 2024.
Is Prince George safer than Kamloops?
No, on the official measure. In 2025 the Prince George RCMP municipal area’s CSI was 193.8, compared with 134.0 for the Kamloops RCMP municipal area. Read is Kamloops safe?
Related: is BC safe? · most dangerous cities in BC · is Kelowna safe? · is Chilliwack safe? · how to report a crime in Canada · is Penticton safe? · is Vernon safe?. In an emergency call 911.