In 2025, Greater Sudbury saw its crime severity index drop to 65.69, marking one of the lowest points since the city's amalgamation. Despite a rise in police call volumes, the nature of reported offenses shifted significantly toward non-violent incidents.
A departure from the 25-year average of 77.75
The current crime landscape in Greater Sudbury represents a significant shift from historical norms.. While the 2025 index of 65.69 is the third-lowest since the city's amalgamation in 2001, it still sits below the 25-year annual average of 77.75. this trend suggests a transition in the nature of local crime, moving away from the high-severity incidents that characterized previous decades.
Greater Sudbury Police Service members dealt with a higher volume of criminal incidents in 2025, seeing a 12.3% increase in responses compared to the previous year. however, as the report indicates, this rise in activity did not translate to a more dangerous environment. The overall index fell from 67.16 in 2024 to 65.69 in 2025, following a five-year average of 74.86.
Violent crime at 108.73 remains above the national average
While the overall index is down, violent crime in Greater Sudbury remains a persistent concern. The violent crime severity index sat at 108.73 in 2025, which, according to the report, is still higher than the national average of 97.19. This figure represents a post-pandemic-era low, but it remains well above the region's 25-year average of 86.45.
Violent crime in the region has seen significant volatility in recent years. The index peaked in 2022 with a score of 135.73, and since 2020 , the severity has exceeded 100 every single year. While the current numbers are on par with 2024, they remain a distinct outlier compared to historical double-digit figures.
The 29% spike in property offenses and the 16.1% clearance gap
A significant driver of the changing crime landscape is a 29% increase in property offenses. while these crimes weigh less heavily in the severity index, they present a challenge for law enforcement, as property offenses saw a meager 16.1% clearance rate. This stands in stark contrast to the 72.5% clearance rate for violent offenses.
The divergence between crime types is creating a complex environment for the Greater Sudbury Police Service. While violent offenses saw a 14% drop, the surge in property-related incidents has fundamentally altered the volume of police work required, even as the overall "severity" of the city's crime profile decreases.
A record 59.97% weighted clearance rate for serious offenses
Greater Sudbury's weighted clearance rate reached an all-time high of 59.97% in 2025, significantly outperforming the national average of 36.64%. this metric, which gives more weight to serious crimes, suggests that the Greater Sudbury Police Service is becoming more effective at resolving high-impact cases.
Despite this success in high-weight cases, the unweighted clearance rate—which looks at all crimes regardless of severity—actually saw a slight drop to 46.1% from 49.6% the previous year. This suggests that while the police are better at catching those committing serious offenses, they are struggling more with the sheer volume of minor incidents.
What is driving the 29% property crime spike?
The statistical data provided by the report leaves several key details unverified. The report notes a massive increase in property offenses but does not specify the exact types of crimes—such as theft, vandalism, or breaking and entering—that contributed to the 29% rise. Additionally , it remains unclear why the unweighted clearance rate dropped even as the weighted rate hit a record high. Finally, the report does not include a response from the Greater Sudbury Police Service regarding the 12.3% increase in total criminal incidents.
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