Violent crime

In recent years, many of our communities have become safer places to live, with fewer violent crimes such as homicides, assaults and robberies. The rate of violent criminal incidents per capita had been decreasing throughout most of the 1990s, though in 2001, it remained 6% higher than in 1989. In 2002, the rate decreased in most major categories of violent crime, including attempted murder, assault, robbery and abduction. Altogether, violent crime comprised 13% of Criminal Code offences in 2002.

	Intruder ©2003 ICN-RCI / Hemera

Violent crime rates vary significantly across the country. Although Quebec reported an increase in violent crime in 2002, it still had the lowest incidence of violent crime in the country—719 per 100,000. Nova Scotia's violent crime rate was the highest east of Ontario, with 1,099 reported incidents per 100,000, although rates remained generally higher in the western provinces. Manitoba’s and Saskatchewan’s rates of violent crime were the highest among the provinces with over 1,600 and 1,800 incidents per 100,000 people, respectively.

The homicide rate—which includes first- and second-degree murder, manslaughter and infanticide—has generally been declining since the mid-1970. In 1999, the homicide rate hit its lowest level in 32 years, though it has increased slightly each year since then. In 2002, homicides, together with attempted murders, represent less than 0.4% of all reported violent incidents.

Fewer than 1 in 10 violent crimes in 2002 was a robbery. The rate of robberies has declined by 9% since 1999 and has generally been dropping since 1991. The use of firearms during the commission of a robbery has declined significantly in the last 20 years. In 2002, some 13% of all robberies were committed with a firearm, compared with 25% in 1988 and 37% in 1978.

Robberies were much more likely than all other violent crimes to involve youths aged from 12 to 17. In 2002, one-third of all those charged with robbery were youths, even though they accounted for only 15% of assaults and 9% of homicides.