Newly released data from Statistics Canada reveals a concerning trend in police-reported crime, with a four per cent increase in 2022 as measured by the Crime Severity Index (CSI). The CSI assesses both the volume and severity of civilian law violations. This marks the second consecutive year of rising crime rates as reported by police, with violent crimes reaching their highest point since 2007, according to the statistics.
While non-violent crimes, including drug offenses and vandalism, also showed an increase in 2022, they remained lower than pre-pandemic levels. The CSI had been on an upward trajectory for five consecutive years before the pandemic, with a total increase of 19 per cent since 2015. Lockdown restrictions during the pandemic contributed to a sharp decline in non-violent crimes, according to the report.
The CSI data further highlights that violent reported crimes saw a five per cent increase in 2022, following a six per cent rise in 2021. Some of the specific crimes that contributed to this increase include higher rates of robbery (up 15 per cent), extortion (up 39 per cent), homicide (up 8 per cent), and level one sexual assault (up 3 per cent).
Non-violent crimes rose by four per cent in 2022 but remained six per cent lower than in 2019. This increase in non-violent crimes corresponds to a higher frequency of property crimes and minor thefts, involving items valued at $5,000 or less. Notably, shoplifting surged by 31 per cent, and motor vehicle theft rose by 24 per cent in 2022.
However, the data also reveals that some non-violent violations decreased compared to 2021. Drug offenses declined by 17 per cent, identity fraud fell by 11 per cent, and impaired driving saw a decline of 3 per cent in 2022.
In total, Statistics Canada reports a five per cent jump in the annual crime rate from 2021 to 2022. This translates to up to 5,668 incidents per 100,000 population.
Despite the concerning increases in crime, it’s important to note that the crime rate in 2022 was still four per cent lower than the combined rate of non-violent and violent crimes in 2019, providing a broader context to the statistics. Authorities and policymakers will continue to monitor these trends closely to understand the factors contributing to the rise in crime and work towards effective strategies for crime prevention and public safety.