Police-reported Crime in Canada, 2006

• The crime rate decreased 3% in 2006, primarily fuelled by non-violent crimes. Property crimes decreased by 4%, while other Criminal Code offences dropped by 3%. The drop in 2006 was driven by declines in non-violent crimes. Counterfeiting incidents accounted for much of this drop (-29%). In addition, there were about 22,000 fewer thefts under $5,000 (-4%) and 11,000 fewer break-ins (-5%).
• There were about 310,000 violent incidents in 2006, resulting in a rate that was similar to the 2005 rate (304,000).
• The stability in the overall crime rate in from 2005 to 2006 can be explained by an increase in attempted murders (+3%), aggravated assaults (+5%), assaults with a weapon or causing bodily harm (+4%), robberies (+6%) kidnapping/forcible confinement (+12%), and a corresponding decrease (10%) in the homicide rate and sexual assault.
• Following a 4% increase in 2005, the homicide rate decreased by 10%. Police reported 605 homicides in 2006, 58 less than in 2005.  The decrease in 2006 follows two consecutive years of increases. The national homicide rate has generally been declining since the mid-1970’s, when it was around 3.0 homicides per 100,000 population.
• There were about 31,000 robberies in 2006. The robbery rate was 6% higher than in 2005; however, it was about 12% lower than a decade ago.
• Police reported more than 22,000 sexual assaults in 2006. The sexual assault rate decreased by 7% in 2006, translating to 68 incidents per 100,000 citizens, 26% lower than a decade ago.
• In 2006, police reported about 1.17 million property crimes in 2006, with theft of $5,000 and less accounting for more than half of all property crimes.  The property crime rate decreased for the third consecutive year, dropping 4%.
• The rate of break-ins in Canada dropped to its lowest level in over 30 years. Since peaking in 1991, the rate has fallen 50%, including a 5% drop in 2006. There were about 250,000 break-ins reported to police in 2006, of which almost six in ten were to residences. Both residential and commercial break-ins declined last year.
• There were over 159,000 motor vehicle thefts reported to police in 2006, a 2% drop from the year before.
• In 2006, there were approximately 120,000 Criminal Code traffic incidents, a slight decrease over 2005 (-2%). The most common traffic offence was impaired driving (62%), followed by failure to stop and/or remain (24%), and dangerous driving and driving while prohibited (9%).
• In 2006, although there was a 6% drop in impaired driving charges, police reported about 74,000 incidents of impaired driving, or 228 per 100,000 population, This trend may be explained by changing attitudes, introduction of legislation, and shifts in enforcement practices.
• In 2006, police reported more than 96,000 incidents under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The rate of drug offences increased by 2% in 2006. Cannabis offences continue to account for about 60% of all drug offences, and these were down 4%. At the same time, cocaine offences were up 13% and other drug offences, including crystal meth, rose 8%.
• The youth crime rate increased 3% in 2006, the first increase since 2003. This increase was largely driven by a 9% increase in “other” Criminal Code offences such as mischief and disturbing the peace. Youth violent crime rose 3% while property crime committed by youth dropped 3%. The 2006 rate of youths accused of homicide was the highest since 1961, when data were first collected.
• In keeping with the principles of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), although more youths came into contact with the police in 2006, fewer were formally charged. The rates of youths formally charged dropped by 1%, while the rate of youths cleared by means other than the laying of a charge rose 6%.
• Since the introduction of the YCJA, the proportion of apprehended youths formally charged by police has dropped from 56% in 2002 (pre-YCJA) to 42% in 2006. However, for serious violent crimes, almost three-quarters of youths were formally charged in 2006.

Sources:

• Silver, W. “Crime Statistics in Canada, 2005” Juristat. Catalogue no. 85-002-XIE, Vol. 27, no. 5. Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.  Ottawa: Statistics Canada.

• Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR2) Survey, 2006