In Sarnia last year, police solved more crimes than ever, with a record 39.25% clearance rate, meaning more cases were closed with charges or other resolutions. However, violent crime hit an all-time high, with four homicides pushing the Violent Crime Severity Index up 11.5%, despite a national drop in violent crime. A surge in non-consensual image distribution cases, which are easier to solve due to digital evidence, partly boosted the clearance rate. As Sarnia plans a new $91-million police headquarters, residents are questioning how these stats reflect community safety.

Reporting for WGRT – JP bZet