FACTS UPDATE

STATISTICS CANADA : 2003 VIOLENT CRIME RATE STILL 66% HIGHER THAN 25 YEARS AGO

Assaults with a weapon up by 1% in 2003

STATISTICS CANADA

CRIME STATISTICS IN CANADA , 2003

By Marnie Wallace - Catalogue Number 85-002, Vol.24, no.6

Violent Crime (Page 5 and 6)

There were more than 300,000 violent crimes reported by police in  2003.  This translates into 963 violent incidents per 100,000 population.  Violent crime includes homicide, attempted murder, assault, sexual assault, other assaults, other sexual offences, abduction robbery.  Three out of every five violent incidents are classified as Level 1 assault.

The rate of violent crime has been generally declining slightly (-11%) over the past decade, after having increased steadily through most of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.  In 2003, the total violent crime rate remained relatively stable.  All violent crime categories recorded declines, except robbery (+5%) and attempted murder (+4%).  The 2003 violent crime rate was 11% lower than its near-peak in 1993, but still 66% higher than 25 years ago.

Assaults remain stable (Page 8)

In 2003, police reported more than 236,000 incidents of assault.  The rate (746 incidents per 100,000 population) remained stable (-1%) compared to 2002 and stands about 4% lower than a decade ago.   Assaults represent approximately 4 out of every 5 violent crimes.  They are classified under three main categories: common assault (level 1 assault); assault with a weapon, or causing bodily harm (Level 2 assault); and aggravated assault (Level 3 assault).  There were a further 12,000 "other" assaults reported in  2003, such as assault against a police officer and unlawfully causing bodily harm.

Common assaults account for 4 out of every five assaults, and 3 out of every 5 violent crimes.  Behaviours such as pushing, slapping, punching and face-to-face threats are included in this category.  The rate of common assault dropped 1% in  2003.  The rate of "other" assaults also declined (-2%), while the rates of assault with a weapon and aggravated assault increased, up 1% and 4% respectively.

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CRIMINAL CODE INCIDENTS PER POLICE OFFICER - 1962-2003

1962: 19.7 Criminal Code Incidents per Police Officer

2003: 43.3 Criminal Code Incidents per Police Officer

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/CriminalIncidentsperPoliceOfficer1962-2004.pdf

 

WEAPONS USED IN CRIME IN 2003

http://www.cssa-cila.org/garryb/publications/Article520.htm