Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2012: highlights

View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Archived

This page has been archived on the Web.

[Full article in HTML] [Full article in PDF]

• Just under 2 million criminal incidents were reported to police in 2012, about 36,000 fewer than in 2011, a decline primarily due to decreases in non-violent crimes.
• After peaking in 1991, the police-reported crime rate—which measures the volume of criminal incidents reported to police—has generally declined. In 2012, it reached its lowest level since 1972.
• The Crime Severity Index (CSI), which takes into account the volume and seriousness of police-reported crime, was down for the ninth consecutive year. Both the violent Crime Severity Index and the non-violent Crime Severity Index declined in 2012.
• In 2012, 543 homicides were reported in Canada, 55 fewer than in 2011. As a result, the homicide rate fell to its lowest level since 1966. However, 11 more attempted murders and 21 more other offences causing death were reported in 2012 than in 2011.
• The rate for most violent offences was down in 2012 with the largest decreases recorded for major sexual assaults, homicide, robbery, assaults on a peace officer, and indecent or harassing phone calls.
• Offences causing death other than homicide, as well as extortion, violent firearm offences, and sexual offences against children were among the few violent offences that rose in 2012.
• The police-reported rates for most non-violent Criminal Code offences were also down in 2012. In contrast, the rates of terrorism-related incidents, identity fraud, and arson rose. The rates for most federal statute violations also rose in 2012.
• Police-reported youth crime also decreased in 2012. Both the youth accused rate and the youth CSI were down for the third consecutive year.
• Both the crime rate and the CSI were highest in the territories. Among the provinces, the highest police-reported crime rates and CSIs were generally reported in the Western provinces.
• Most provinces reported lower crime rates in 2012 than in 2011. Only New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the territories saw increases in their police-reported crime rates and CSIs.
• Kelowna had the highest police-reported crime rate in 2012, and Regina recorded a higher CSI than any other census metropolitan area (CMA). Toronto recorded the lowest crime rate while Québec recorded the lowest CSI among CMAs.
• Winnipeg had the highest violent CSI in 2012, followed by Saskatoon and Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay reported the highest homicide rate, followed by Winnipeg.