[calculoso]

Originally Posted by troutman

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/National

Canada's crime rate fell to its lowest level in 25 years in 2006 as the steady decline in property offences such as break-ins drove crime dramatically below the peaks of the early 1990s.

There were fewer slayings and the homicide rate dipped 10 per cent after two years of increases.

But the broader rate of violent crime, which has fallen far more slowly in recent years, remained unchanged from 2005 to 2006 because of more incidents of some serious violent crimes such as attempted murder, assault with a weapon and robbery.

"Since 1991, the crime rate is down by 30 per cent. That's just astonishing. But that's not what most people, I think, believe," said University of Toronto criminologist Rosemary Gartner.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Colu...5/4366392.html

Statistics Canada just released its annual crime report with a generally good news spin. But don't break out the champagne yet.

(snip)

The language of the number crunchers hinted at concern with the increase in attempted murders -- up 30 from 822 cases in 2005 -- but it was tempered with seemingly good news that there had been decreases in that crime since 1996.

But that's not the whole story. It just means less reliance on that charge. Precedents, rulings and policies have elevated the threshold for that offence, making it very difficult to prove in a courtroom setting.

Consequently when most people are thinking "attempted murder," other charges are preferred and laid. Aggravated assault and assault with a weapon are routinely used in cases where people have been wounded, stabbed or beaten into comas and life is in actual jeopardy. Given that -- and flying in the face of the touted drop in overall crime -- it's no surprise to read that the rates of aggravated assault along with assault with a weapon and other level 2 offences have risen dramatically -- 9% and 35% respectively -- in the last decade.

In fact assaults with weapons are up for the seventh straight year and currently sits at the highest rate since being introduced in the Criminal code in 1983.

Strangely the 4,449 reported kidnappings and forcible confinements -- a rate increase of 108% since 1996 -- are not classified as violent crime. They are "other" along with graffiti and disturbing the peace.

etc.. etc... etc..