Crime statistics

Canada's police-reported crime rate remained virtually unchanged in 2002 (-0.6%). The national crime rate, which has been on a downward trend for more than a decade, is now 27% below its peak in 1991. While rates for most crimes remained unchanged or dropped in 2002, increases were seen in homicides, fraud/counterfeiting, drug offences and prostitution.

In total, police reported 2.4 million Criminal Code offences, excluding traffic. Of these, 13% were violent crimes, 52% were property crimes and the remaining 35% were "other" offences such as mischief and disturbing the peace. Rates declined for violent crime and youth crime in 2002, while property crime was virtually unchanged.

There were 582 homicides in 2002, 29 more than the previous year. The increase was driven by a large increase in British Columbia, up from 84 homicides in 2001 to 126 in 2002. Part of this increase was associated with the Missing Women's Task Force investigation in Port Coquitlam, B.C. which resulted in 15 homicides from previous years being reported by police in 2002.

The rate of total drug offences increased for the ninth straight year, driven by increases in both cannabis offences and other drug offences, which include synthetic drugs such as ecstasy and methamphetamine. In 2002, three in four drug incidents were cannabis offences, most of which were for simple possession.

Among the provinces, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and New Brunswick reported the largest increases in crime rates in 2002. Quebec and Ontario reported the largest declines. Crime rates in the Atlantic provinces exceed those in Quebec and surpass those in Ontario.

Violent crime down as robberies, assaults decline

Police reported about 300,000 violent crimes in 2002, encompassing everything from homicide to attempted murder, assault, sexual assault, robbery and abduction. Nearly two-thirds of these violent crimes were minor assaults.

Nationally, the rate of violent crime dropped 2% in 2002, driven by a 3% decline in the rate of robberies and a 2% decline in assaults. The violent crime rate has generally been dropping since the early 1990s.

The homicide rate (1.9 homicides per 100,000 population) rose 4% in 2002 after remaining stable the previous two years. The homicide rate has been on a downward trend since the mid-1970s.

Manitoba (3.1) and British Columbia (3.0) reported the highest homicide rates among the provinces in 2002. The lowest homicide rates were in the four Atlantic provinces. Quebec reported 118 homicides, 22 fewer than in 2001, resulting in the lowest homicide rate (1.6) in over 25 years in Quebec.

Police reported 682 attempted murders in 2002, down from 725 in 2001, the second straight year of decline. The largest category of violent crime, common assault, dropped 2%. The rates for assault with a weapon and aggravated assault remained relatively stable in 2002.

The rate of sexual assaults has remained virtually unchanged over the past four years. Police reported just over 24,000 sexual assaults in 2002, 98% of which were Level-1 sexual assaults, the least serious form.

The robbery rate declined 3% in 2002, continuing a downward trend. About half of the almost 27,000 robberies were committed with a weapon. The rate of robberies involving a firearm has dropped by two-thirds since 1992. Robberies committed with a firearm now account for one in every eight robberies.

Saskatchewan recorded the highest rate of violent crime among the provinces for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Manitoba. For the eighth straight year, Quebec reported the lowest violent crime rate, followed by Ontario.

Majority of cannabis offences involve possession

Police reported almost 93,000 incidents related to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in 2002, a 3% increase in the rate from the previous year. The rate of drug offences, which has been increasing for nearly a decade, is at a 20-year high.

The rate of cannabis offences rose 2% in 2002, while cocaine offences were up 1% and "other" drug offences, including synthetic drugs, climbed 11%. Heroin offences continued to drop, down 18%.

Almost three-quarters of cannabis offences were for possession, 15% for trafficking, 12% for production and 1% for importation. The rate of incidents involving possession of cannabis rose 3% in 2002, and has now doubled since 1991.

British Columbia has shown the highest rate of incidents involving possession of cannabis since 1982, and the province has also reported the highest rate of cannabis production in each of the last 25 years. However, in 2002, British Columbia reported a 3% decline in cannabis possession offences and an 8% decline in cannabis production.

Property crime: decline in break-ins and vehicle thefts

Police reported more than 1.2 million incidents of property crime in 2002. The property crime rate has been decreasing over the past decade and is now at its lowest level in almost three decades.

Almost 275,000 break-ins were reported, the majority of them residential. The break-in rate continued to fall in 2002, with residential break-ins down 3% and business break-ins down 2%. The rates for both residential and business break-ins are down by over 40% since 1992.

Prince Edward Island reported the largest increase in break-in rates (+29%), while Manitoba and Quebec reported the largest declines, both down 5%. Saskatchewan continued to have the highest rate of break-ins among the provinces. New Brunswick reported the lowest break-in rate.

The motor vehicle theft rate fell 5%, the fifth decline in six years. Just over 161,000 motor vehicles were stolen, 7,000 fewer than in 2001. Both the theft of cars (-7%) and the theft of trucks, including vans and SUVs, (-1%) showed declines.

Most provinces reported declines in vehicle thefts, with the largest being in Saskatchewan (-13%), Quebec (-11%) and Prince Edward Island (-11%). British Columbia had the only significant increase, up 7%. Despite an 8% drop in 2002, Manitoba continued to report the highest vehicle theft rate in the country. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest rate.

More than 91,000 incidents of fraud were reported to police in 2002, up 4%. The fraud rate increased for the first time in a decade, driven by a 19% increase in debit/credit card fraud. Similarly, there was a 29% increase in counterfeit currency in 2002. It should be noted that many frauds are not brought to the attention of police.

Downward trend resumes in impaired driving, while prostitution is on the rise

The downward trend in impaired driving rates resumed in 2002, with a 3% decrease in the rate. It follows the first increase in impaired driving offences in nearly 20 years in 2001.

The rate of prostitution offences increased throughout most of the country in 2002, rising 12%. Increases ranged from 5% in Ontario to 62% in Saskatchewan. Although the number of police-reported prostitution offences is directly related to levels of police enforcement, it should be noted that police enforcement may be influenced by the public's perception of the seriousness of the problem in their community.

Drop in youth crime halts two years of increases

Police charged 99,000 youths with a Criminal Code offence in 2002. Following two years of slight increase, the rate of youths charged dropped 5%, continuing the general downward trend seen over the past decade. The youth crime rate in 2002 was 33% lower than in 1992.

Violent crime among youth was down 2% in 2002. After increasing steadily throughout the 1980s, the rate of youths charged with violent crime continued to increase during the 1990s, but at a slower rate. Even with the most recent drop, the 2002 youth violent crime rate was still 7% higher than a decade ago. The youth property crime rate fell 5% in 2002 to its lowest level in over 25 years.

Police are now being encouraged to use more informal measures for dealing with youths involved in less serious offences. As a result, trends in the number of youths dealt with informally should also be examined, in addition to youths formally charged. This would provide a more comprehensive picture of youth crime.

Data from police services collecting this information show that the number of youths dealt with informally by police has remained fairly constant over the past 10 years. This suggests that youth crime is still decreasing, but not to the extent indicated by the drop in youths formally charged. Monitoring trends in police response to youth will become even more important in the future given the recent implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act in April 2003.

Crime rates in Atlantic provinces now exceed those in Ontario

Historically, crime rates have been highest in western Canada and this trend continued in 2002. However, with the recent increases in the Atlantic provinces, crime rates in these provinces exceed those in Quebec and surpass those in Ontario.

Prince Edward Island reported the largest increase in the overall crime rate in 2002 (+12%), including a 15% increase in violent crime and an 8% increase in property crime. These gains left Prince Edward Island with the highest crime rate among all four Atlantic provinces.

Saskatchewan again reported the highest crime rate among the provinces, followed by British Columbia and Manitoba. Saskatchewan also had the highest violent crime rate, while British Columbia reported the highest property crime rate. The lowest overall rates were in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario.

Crime down in most major metropolitan areas

Crime was down in most of Canada's nine largest metropolitan areas in 2002, with the largest decline reported in Hamilton (-8%).

Other declines were reported in Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Québec and Toronto. Calgary's crime rate was relatively stable, while increases were reported in Edmonton and in the Ontario portion of Ottawa-Gatineau. These nine areas account for about half of Canada's population.

As in past years, Vancouver had the highest crime rate among the nine largest metropolitan areas, followed closely by Winnipeg. The lowest rates were in Québec and in Toronto.

Among the 16 smaller metropolitan areas with populations between 100,000 and 500,000, the largest increases in crime were reported in Saint John (+18%) and St. John's (+7%).

Despite a 12% drop in crime in 2002, Regina continued to report the highest crime rate among these 16 areas, followed by Saskatoon and Victoria. The lowest rates were reported in Saguenay, Trois-Rivières and Kitchener.

Among all 25 metropolitan areas, the highest homicide rates were reported in Saskatoon (3.4 homicides per 100,000 population), Winnipeg (3.4) and Vancouver (3.3). The 69 homicides reported in Vancouver include 15 homicides reported in 2002 associated with the investigations undertaken by the Missing Women's Task Force. Montreal's 66 homicides resulted in that city's lowest homicide rate (1.9) in 20 years.

Regina and Saskatoon reported the highest rates of break-ins even though both cities showed declines in 2002. Regina and Winnipeg had the highest rates of vehicle theft, despite both having double-digit decreases in 2002.

Available on CANSIM: tables 252-0013 and 252-0014.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3302.

Juristat: Canadian crime statistics, 2002, Vol. 23, no. 5 (85-002-XIE, $8/$70; 85-002-XPE, $10/$93) is now available.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Information and Client Services (1-800-387-2231; 613-951-9023), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.