WINNIPEG — For the first time in 10 years, the crime rate in Winnipeg increased from the previous year.
That’s according to the Winnipeg Police Service’s 2015 statistical report, which was released Wednesday. It showed violent crime went up six per cent between 2014 and 2015, and property crimes increased by nine per cent.
At a media conference Wednesday, Deputy Chief Danny Smyth of the Winnipeg police said violent crime increased 4.7 per cent in 2015.
“The increase in these numbers is consistent with what we’re seeing being reported in other cities across Canada,” Smyth said. “As a country we are seeing an uptick of reported crime.”
Types of violent crimes that went up include: kidnappings, aggravated assault and firearm offences. Types of violent crimes that went down in 2015 include: homicide, attempted murder and abductions.
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Smyth said a reason violent crimes went up in 2015 might be because for the first time, crimes such as prostitution and human trafficking were placed in that category.
“Winnipeg has high rates of homicide, robbery and sexual assault when compared with other cities,” Smyth said,
“But we have always had high rates when compared to other cities. I don’t know what it is about the prairies. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are typically on the high end of the scale,” he said.
As for property crime, arson rates ticked up from 211 in 2014 incidents to 215 in 2015.
Break-ins jumped significantly. From 3,692 incidents in 2014 to 4,391 in 2015. Fraud went up 22 per cent, with a total of 1,616 cases.
“When it comes to crime of course we want them to trend down. We hope the crime rates in 2015 is a short term hiccup,” Smyth added.