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- Canada's police-reported crime rate decreased by 1% in 2000, the ninth consecutive annual drop. The 2000 rate was the lowest since 1978. Of the nearly 2.4 million Criminal Code incidents, (excluding traffic), 13% were violent crimes, 53% were property crimes, and the remaining 34% were other offences such as mischief, disturbing the peace, prostitution and arson.
- The decrease in the crime rate was driven by a 5% drop in property crime, including a 9% decline in breakins and a 2% drop in motor vehicle theft. The violent crime rate increased by 3% in 2000, following seven straight years of decline. Increases were seen in the rate of attempted murder (+11%) and assaults (+5%). Both the homicide rate and the rate of sexual assaults remained stable, while robberies declined by 7%.
- A number of other offences showed increases in 2000, including disturbing the peace (+14%), drug offences (+9%), arson (+7%), and mischief (+4%). Declines were reported for fraud (-6%), weapons offences (-5%), prostitution (-5%), impaired driving (-3%), and theft (-3%).
- The drop in the national crime rate was fuelled by declines in three of the four largest provinces: Ontario (-1%), British Columbia (-3%), and Alberta (-3%). The only provinces to report an increase in crime were Saskatchewan (+5%), Newfoundland (+3%), Quebec (+1%), and Manitoba (+1%). All three territories showed an increase in their crime rate.
- Among the provinces, Newfoundland continued to show the lowest crime rate, followed by Quebec. Saskatchewan had the highest crime rate, followed by British Columbia. Saskatchewan and Manitoba reported the highest violent crime rates, with the lowest being in Quebec and Prince Edward Island.
- The crime rate dropped in six of the nine largest metropolitan areas in 2000, with the largest decreases reported in Ottawa (-11%) and Calgary (-7%). Increases were observed in Winnipeg (+7%), Quebec (+5%), and Montreal (+1%).
- Even with a 3% decline in 2000, Vancouver showed the highest crime rate among the nine largest metropolitan areas, followed by Winnipeg. The lowest rates were reported in Quebec, Toronto and Ottawa.
- The youth crime rate, as measured by the rate of youths charged with criminal offences, increased slightly (+1%) after having decreased the previous eight years. The youth charged rate for...