Delta's crime rates remain some of the lowest in the country.
That's according to the latest numbers released by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Delta's crime severity index (CSI) for 2016 showed a slight decline from 2015, dropping from 53.9 to 53.6. That's well below the averages for Metro Vancouver (94.3), B.C. (93.6) and Canada (71).
"Quite simply, Delta remains one of the safest communities in B.C.," said Chief Neil Dubord. "Delta is well below the provincial and national average CSI rates. Although the numbers are encouraging, we are steadfast in our approach to drive these numbers down ensuring both the safety of our citizens and apprehension of offenders."
CSI measure both the volume and seriousness of crime by using sentencing data from the nation's courts. Each individual offence is weighted according to the severity of the sentences handed down by judges.
Dubord said the department is in the process of introducing an enhanced service delivery model that, when put into place, will continue the CSI trending in the downward direction.
"I believe we need to be innovative in our policing approach, deploying our resources strategically and leveraging technology to our full advantage," he said. "Additionally and most importantly we must engage with you, our citizens, to work together to keep Delta one of the safest communities in the province. It is very important to me that our citizens feel and know they are safe in this community."
