Latest crime statistics show arson still on the rise in Regina

New Regina crime statistics show nearly 600 arson cases in 2025, which is more than double the number reported in 2020. Jacob Carr reports.

Arson continues to plague the City of Regina, as the number of cases that the Regina Police Service (RPS) is seeing continues to rise year after year.

After a slight dip from 174 cases in 2016, to 124 in 2017, arsons have been on the incline, peaking last year at 598.

“Arson is one of those things that sort of happens, where there really aren’t any avenues for us to investigate. In many instances, there often aren’t any witnesses. There often isn’t any video,” said RPS Chief Lorilee Davies. “And I think for a lot of folks, if they think, ‘Oh, that’s a garbage bin that’s set on fire’, that it’s really a victimless crime.”

Despite the alarming rise in arson in the city, Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski is choosing to focus on the positive trends in the crime statistics from 2025.

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Crimes like robberies, motor vehicle thefts, and break and enters decreased from 2024 to 2025, which he says is an encouraging sign.

“I think with anything, it’s always being cautiously optimistic, but it’s a positive trend. To see a number of areas go down, there are some areas that haven’t, and so those are obviously some focus areas. But overall, I think we are doing a lot of the right things.”

The 598 arson incidents in 2025 were more than double the average from 2016 to 2024, of 238.

Incidents increased eight percent from 2024 to 2025 with bin fires accounting for 56 per cent of all arson reports.

Despite the overall increase, arson to structures decreased significantly, by approximately 42 per cent.

“Certainly, it’s something that is concerning for us. And we are working with the City of Regina and Regina Fire and Protective Services to determine if there are things that we can do to sort of take away that opportunity for those fires to start as well.”

CTV News reached out to Regina Fire and Protective Services for comment but did not receive a reply by deadline.