B.C. Crime Rate Falls

Monday, August 31, 2009 04:09 PM

Victoria, B.C. - The overall crime rate in B.C. is down for the fifth year in a row, with property crimes plummeting to the lowest recorded number in 30 years and violent crimes declining to a new 20-year low, according to the most recent Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics for 2008.

Declines were reported in property crimes, with 13 per cent fewer thefts and 11 per cent fewer break and enters. Mirroring national trends, B.C.’s overall crime rate declined eight per cent in 2008, reporting 96 offences per 1,000 population compared to 105 offences per 1,000 population in 2007. A total of 419,767 Criminal Code offences were recorded last year, more than 30,000 fewer offences than in 2007:

There were 2,131 fewer violent offences, leading to a six per cent drop in violent crimes.
Motor vehicle thefts dropped by 15 per cent – resulting in 4,152 fewer vehicles stolen.
Weapons offences decreased by 17 per cent, with 900 fewer offences recorded.
There was an 11 per cent decrease in the number of youths charged, and a 12 per cent drop in the number of youths in contact with police.
Despite a 3% drop in drug crimes, BC continues to have the highest drug crime rate in Canada.
Impaired driving offences remained stable in BC, while increasing 6% nationally

Not all crime in B.C. showed a decrease in 2008. A total of 117 homicides were recorded, 29 more than in 2007. Many of these were gang-related.

Crime rates can be affected by a number of things, including changes in the age, number or gender of an offenders group, changes in the way police enforce or target crimes and even technological advances which can lead to new and more complex crimes.

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