Crime rates in Nova Scotia saw a slight uptick last year, despite a decrease in crime severity within the province and across Canada, as per a recent report by Statistics Canada in July. The crime rate, which measures the volume of crime per capita regardless of severity, rose by one percent in Nova Scotia. The rate reached 6,147 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, marking the highest level since 2012.
This increase in Nova Scotia contrasts with the national trend, where the crime rate dropped by two percent in the same period. Nova Scotia’s crime rate exceeded the national average of 5,585 incidents per 100,000 people. The surge in minor crimes such as shoplifting and low-level assault contributed to the overall rise in the crime rate, according to Chris Giacomantonio, a criminologist and director of the Clairmont Centre for Community Safety Research at Dalhousie University.
Shoplifting incidents under $5,000 surged by approximately 860 percent over the past decade in Nova Scotia, with a 23 percent increase from 2024 to 2025. Giacomantonio attributed this rise to inflation and the financial strain caused by the high cost of living.
Despite the increase in crime rates, Nova Scotia reported lower crime rates compared to most other provinces and territories, with only Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec recording lower rates. Giacomantonio emphasized the concern surrounding the provincial crime rate exceeding levels from a decade ago, stating that the rise should be alarming regardless of how Nova Scotia compares to other regions.
While the overall crime rate in Nova Scotia increased, the crime severity index decreased by three percent last year. This index measures the number and seriousness of all police-reported crimes relative to the population size. Giacomantonio explained that the rise in minor crimes and the decline in major crimes contributed to this discrepancy between the crime rate and severity index.
Giacomantonio highlighted the importance of considering both the crime rate and crime severity index when discussing public safety. He noted that while serious crimes typically occur among individuals who know each other, encounters with minor crimes are more common in daily life, potentially impacting individuals’ sense of safety.
The Nova Scotia RCMP refrained from speculating on factors influencing crime rate changes without a thorough analysis but emphasized their commitment to collaborating with policing and community partners to enhance safety for Nova Scotians. Nova Scotia outperformed the national average in the crime severity index despite the national rate dropping by five percent last year.
Although the slight decrease in crime severity in Nova Scotia is a positive step, Giacomantonio expressed concern about the sustained increase in violent incidents in the province, which has risen by 34 percent since 2016. He stressed the importance of community-level interventions in addressing this issue effectively.
In response to the crime statistics, the Department of Justice in Nova Scotia expressed concern over the overall increase in crime and highlighted the province’s investment in policing to support community safety initiatives. Giacomantonio reiterated that crime rates serve as a signal rather than a definitive explanation of safety, emphasizing that individual experiences of crime are often influenced by factors such as neighborhood and socioeconomic status.
The article continues to discuss various related topics and developments in Nova Scotia, highlighting the broader context of crime rates and public safety initiatives in the province.