Lethbridge goes back to the list of the most dangerous places in Canada: Maclean's Magazine – Lethbridge

This is not an immediate change, but Lethbridge is climbing the list of the most dangerous places in Canada, according to Maclean's magazine.

The publication published its annual report. The most recent figures are from 2017 and the data come from Statistics Canada.

Maclean's indicates that, when looking at the five-year variations in the Crime Severity Index, the growing number of respondents in Lethbridge ranks third among 237 municipalities in the country.

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Claire Brownell, badociate editor of reports and rankings at Maclean'sLethbridge has risen through the ranks due to a number of contributing factors.

"The most important would be drug trafficking, other than cocaine and marijuana," she said. "That would include opioids, crystal methamphetamine – these drugs we always hear about.

"There has been a 225% increase in the trafficking of these drugs over five years."

Brownell said other factors were firearms offenses – which doubled – and break-ins, which increased by 87%.

Lethbridge also witnessed a sharp increase in the number of fraud incidents.

"You've also seen an increase in fraud of almost 200% over the last five years," Brownell said. "[Lethbridge has] the sixth highest rate of fraud in the country now. "

With respect to all crimes, Lethbridge is No. 19 in Maclean's ranking, North Battleford, Sask., is ranked # 1.

For violent crimes, Lethbridge is ranked 39th. Thompson, Man., Ranked top in this category.

Across the country, the Crime Severity Index increased for the third year in a row. This comes after 11 years of decline.