Police investigate after a body was found near a Calgary strip mall in October, one of 15 homicides in the city in 2010. (CBC)

Calgary's homicide rate took a sharp nosedive in 2010 and police are pointing to a decrease in gang violence as a factor.

There were 15 homicides in 2010, compared to 26 in 2009, and 34 in 2008. It's the lowest number posted since 2003.

"We've seen that huge decrease in gang violence, gang murders, so you know, I think we're turning to somewhat of a normal trend. I'm hoping, anyways," said homicide unit Staff Sgt. Rick Tuza.

While Calgary's first homicide of 2011 was only an hour into the new year, there were four homicides on the first day of 2009.

Calgary led the country in the metropolitan rate of gang-related slayings in 2008, according to Statistics Canada.

"I think they have made a dent in the criminal gangs; they have reduced the crime of criminal gangs to some extent," said Mahfooz Kanwar, who teaches criminology at Mount Royal University in Calgary. "They have made some significant arrests, and that has deterred other people."

The lower homicide rate has given police time to focus on older files and cold cases, police said. In December, Barry David Brown was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting Corinne Rita Belanger to death in 2001.

However, Tuza doesn't believe the low homicide rate is likely to continue.

"I still think that this year is an anomaly," he said.