Edmonton’s gang murder rate tops in Canada

EDMONTON – Edmonton has the highest rate of gang-related murders across Canada, says a report released today by Statistics Canada.

While Edmonton dropped below Winnipeg as the major centre with the highest homicide rate per 100,000 people last year, the city maintained the highest number of firearm-related deaths and gang slayings.

In 2007, Edmonton had 36 murders, 16 of them connected to gang activity, says the data provided to the agency by Canadian police forces.

More murders per capita were committed with firearms in Edmonton last year than in other major centres like Toronto and Calgary, the report says.

Edmonton police spokeswoman Karen Carlson said the Statistics Canada numbers are hard to compare because they are based on Edmonton's greater metropolitan area. That figure includes surrounding areas and therefore adds three more murders committed outside city limits last year.

According to the Edmonton Police Service's own numbers, homicide rates appear to be dropping, as do gang murders and shootings, Carlson said.

Between 2006 and 2007, firearms-related murders dropped nine per cent while gang slayings fell by four per cent.

"People who live a high-risk lifestyle are at an increased chance of being a victim of homicide," she said. "Included in that is those who choose to become in involved in gangs."

So far this year, Edmonton has had 22 homicides.

slillebuen@thejournal.canwest.com

© Edmonton Journal 2008