Community Safety
Like in many communities across Canada, community safety is becoming a larger issue in Kelowna. Council, City staff and the RCMP share residents’ concerns stemming from the many complex issues facing our community.
While Kelowna continues to be a safe place to live, work and raise a family, decisive action is needed to reduce property crime. The City of Kelowna has been at the forefront of initiatives and actions to address community safety and other social challenges in recent years. We’ve been more than a partner – we’ve been a provincial leader in this space.
We’ve invested in RCMP contract budget increases for years and it’s become clear this cannot be the only means to promote community safety.
- City Council approved an ongoing one per cent Community Safety Levy in 2023. The 2023 budget provides funding for six new RCMP officers, four Bylaw Services officers, two Police Services support staff and one Community Safety Services employee.
- We are developing bike theft prevention initiatives, actions to reduce business break & enters and thefts, and supporting the Mayor's Task Force on Crime Reduction. The Mayor’s Task Force on Crime Reduction will provide recommendations to Council on community-driven initiatives to reduce crime in Kelowna. It includes 13 members that represent relevant expertise and sector representation within our community, including the business community, to increase safety and sense of safety.
- The RCMP contract budget allows for 228 officers in 2023 compared to 179 in 2016, a 27 per cent increase.
- There are 100 approved Police Services support employees in 2023 compared to 65 in 2016, a 54 per cent increase.
- There are 28 approved Bylaw Services positions in 2023 compared to 20 in 2016, a 40 per cent increase.
Alternative approaches have been and continue to be pursued. We’ve worked with regional partners to address the root causes of crime and we continue to advocate to the Federal and Provincial governments for community safety enhancements beyond the City’s scope. These include updates to legislation, increases in Crown prosecution capacity and investments in education, social services and other avenues to address the root causes of crime.
Much has been done, but there is more to do. The City of Kelowna continues to lead efforts in our community and across B.C. to improve community safety through innovation, collaboration and advocacy.
We’re committed to a Kelowna that’s beautiful, vibrant, active and even safer than it is now.
Kelowna’s first-ever Community Safety Plan was endorsed by Council on April 11, 2022. This five-year plan is designed to generate shared ownership, vision and action among government ministries and community organizations to improve community safety, and sense of safety.
The Community Safety Toolkit is filled with practical steps you can take to build a safer Kelowna, prevent crime and protect yourself, your loved ones and your property. The Business Safety Toolkit contains similar information that's designed specifically for the local business community.
The City is partnering with Central Okanagan Public Schools on the Youth Gang Prevention and Reduction Strategy aimed at interrupting the pathways that can lead high-risk, vulnerable youth toward gun and gang involvement. The program is facilitated by a $2 million contribution from the Government of Canada’s Building Safer Communities Fund.
The Provincial Court of BC opened the Kelowna Integrated Court in May 2021. The Court seeks to reduce crime and improve public safety by integrating health and social services with the justice system to address the root causes of criminal behaviour.
The City of Kelowna continues to make considerable investments in local law enforcement. The Kelowna RCMP contract budget allows for 228 officers in 2023 compared to 179 in 2016, a 27 per cent increase. There are 100 approved Police Services support staff in 2023 compared to 65 in 2016, a 54 per cent increase. There are 28 Bylaw Services officers in 2023 compared to 20 in 2016, a 40 per cent increase. View the Kelowna RCMP 2021-2024 Strategic Plan.
The City regularly surveys residents on crime and community safety in Kelowna. Public perceptions are used alongside crime statistics and trends to guide community safety priorities. The latest Community Safety Survey was presented to Council on May 16, 2022.
Property crime accounts for two-thirds of criminal activity reported in Kelowna. These are most often crimes of opportunity, like theft or vandalism, and there are actions we can all take to protect ourselves against them.
See the Community Safety Toolkit and the Business Safety Toolkit for some practical steps you can take to improve community safety and protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.
View the Community Safety Toolkit
VIEW THE BUSINESS SAFETY TOOLKIT
View the Who To Call Brochure
We encourage you to contact Kelowna RCMP to report all crime and suspicious activity. Reporting crime helps identify suspects, track crime trends, and know how and where to use our resources.
These guides contains tips to know how, what and when to report. See the Response Guide for Shoplifting, the Response Guide for Property Crime, and the Response Guide for Bike Theft.
Kelowna residents should call 911 if they witness a crime underway, or report crimes that have occurred (i.e., stolen property) online or call Kelowna RCMP's non-emergency line at 250-762-3300 to report suspicious or illegal activity.
Report graffiti online or by calling 250-469-8600.
Report improperly discarded needles by calling 250-469-8601.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
