Newsgroups: ncf.newspaper.statscan.daily Path: tribune.usask.ca!freenet.carleton.ca!cunews!daemon From: /CENTRAL.WCSSTDAY Subject: Crime Statistics 1992 Message-ID: <930830.09013372.085450@CU.CP6> To: statscan-daily@cunews.carleton.ca Really-To: statscan-daily@cunews.carleton.ca Sender: daemon@cunews.carleton.ca Organization: Carleton University Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1993 13:01:00 GMT Approved: news@cunews.carleton.ca Lines: 95 In 1992, police reported 2.8 million incidents involving Criminal Code offences (excludes traffic offences). The 1992 crime rate fell 3.2% to 10,394 reported incidents per 100,000 population, from 10,735 in 1991. The overall crime rate had been increasing since the mid-1980s. In 1992, the rate of reported violent crime increased 2% over 1991, a slower rate than the average over the past decade (+5%). The Criminal Code incident rate ranged from 6,418 offences per 100,000 population in Newfoundland to 15,801 in British Columbia. In 1992, violent incidents (i.e., assault, sexual assault, robbery, abduction and homicide) made up 10.8% of all Criminal Code incidents. The violent crime rate increased 2% over 1991, to 1,122 incidents per 100,000 population. Minor assaults (those not involving a weapon or serious physical injury) continued to account for over half of all reported violent incidents (57% in 1992). The number of homicides in 1992 decreased to 732 (2.67 per 100,000 population), from 756 in 1991. The 1992 homicide rate was 13.6% lower than the peak homicide rate reached in 1975 (3.09 per 100,000 population). Most other categories of offences showed decreases in their rates from 1991. The property crime rate (i.e., breaking and entering, theft, possession of stolen goods and fraud) decreased 4.4% to 6,110 incidents per 100,000 population. The rate for "other" Criminal Code incidents (i.e., mischief, vandalism, disturbing the peace, bail violations, offensive weapons and prostitution) decreased 2.5% to 3,161 incidents per 100,000 population. Property crime incidents made up 59% of all Criminal Code incidents in 1992 and "other" Criminal Code incidents made up 30%. Criminal Code Traffic Offences In 1992, police reported 217,096 incidents involving Criminal Code traffic offences (i.e., impaired driving, failure to stop or remain, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle). The 1992 rate of Criminal Code traffic incidents decreased 5.4% to 792 per 100,000 population, from 837 in 1991. The 132,377 incidents that involved impaired driving offences accounted for 61% of Criminal Code traffic incidents. The rate of incidents involving impaired driving offences decreased 7.3% to 483 per 100,000 population in 1992, from 521 in 1991, so that 1992 marked the ninth consecutive year in which the rate of impaired driving offences decreased. Drug Offences In 1992, police reported 56,490 incidents involving drug offences (under the Narcotics Control Act and the Food and Drug Act). The rate of drug-related incidents continued its downward trend, falling to 206 per 100,000 population, down 2.4% from 211 in 1991. Violations Against Other Federal Statutes In addition to Criminal Code and drug-related incidents, police reported 40, 518 violations against other federal statutes (e.g., Canada Shipping Act, Immigration Act, Customs Act, Excise Act) and 322,201 violations against various provincial statutes. In 1992, the rate of reported incidents involving "other" federal statutes increased 8.8%; the rate of provincial statute incidents decreased 7.5%. Factors that Affect Crime Statistics Crime statistics are affected by many factors and do not necessarily reflect the actual level of criminal activity in Canada. Official crime statistics reflect only reported crime that has been substantiated through police investigation. Many crimes, however, go undetected or unreported. For example, the General Social Survey estimated that in 1987 only 31% of violent crimes were reported to the police. In addition, changes in societal sensitivity to different forms of crime affect the extent to which various offences are reported. For example, recent changes in the reporting by women of sexual offences and domestic violence, and in the recording by the police of such incidents, may have contributed to an increase in the levels of recorded crime for such offences. Crime statistics are also affected by changes in policing resources, policies and priorities at the local level. Available on CANSIM: matrix 2200. Data for 1992 from the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (actual offences, persons charged, etc.) and from the Homicide Survey (incident, victim and accused variables) are now available upon request. In addition, data from the Revised Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (includes detailed characteristics of incidents, victims and accused persons for a sample of police agencies) are also available upon request. More detailed information will be released later this year in Canadian Crime Statistics (85-205) and various Juristat Service Bulletins (85-002). For further information, contact Information and Client Services (1-613-951- 9023 or 1-800-387-2231), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.