Winnipeg’s not a ‘war zone,’ police chief says about troubling crime stats By: Erik Pindera Posted: 9:45 AM CDT Tuesday, May. 30, 2023 Last Modified: 5:46 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 30, 2023 Updates

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Winnipeg’s police chief tried to quell people’s fear, saying the city is not a “war zone,” after the service’s annual report for 2022 showed violent crime was the worst in 13 years.

“I never want to minimize victims of crime, particularly violent crime… One thing that I think is important… we’re doing a report today where we released aggregate data, that makes the whole city seem like it’s a war zone — it isn’t,” said Danny Smyth, about the department’s 2022 annual report.

The report shows drastic increases in overall crime, property and violent offences year over year, while drug, traffic and other offences, such as administrative court breaches, had dropped.

Fifty-three people were slain in Winnipeg in 2022, making it the deadliest year on record. The previous record was 44, in 2019.

Other violent crimes jumped, too. Police received 13,449 reports of violent crime last year, compared to 11,281 in 2021. The five-year average was 10,858. One in five violent crimes was committed by offenders who were on bail, probation or subject to another court order.

Smyth said that in his almost 37 years on the force, there have been years when crime was worse, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s, though he emphasized the troubling recent trends are concerning.

He added that crime has increased more dramatically in some areas of the city than in others.

“There are certainly some neighbourhoods in our city that have higher rates of crime than others, but most… are in safe places, where you don’t have to look over your shoulder walking down the street. There haven’t been homicides committed in these neighbourhoods, or aggravated assaults or some of the more serious crimes,” said Smyth.

Winnipeg’s violent crime severity index reached its highest level since 2009 — 207.8 in 2022 compared to 191.24 in 2009. Those figures, calculated for Statistics Canada, measure the overall seriousness of crimes from one year to the next by tracking the number reported compared to the severity of the crime. More weight is given to crimes that typically receive longer sentences upon conviction.

Criminologist Frank Cormier said it’s important to maintain perspective when it comes to deciphering crime stats.

“We have been seeing this increase in violent crime, not just in Winnipeg but across the country, but it’s always good to keep in mind, we were at historical lows… even up to about five years ago,” said Cormier, who teaches at the University of Manitoba.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said the report underscores the need to address persistent problems that drive crime, through policing as well as partnerships with agencies to improve safety.

“We need to do all we can to drive those numbers down,” the mayor told reporters.

“We need to do all we can to drive those numbers down.”–Mayor Scott Gillingham

Smyth said police now have more partnerships, including with outreach services and street-level organizations, to help address public safety.

The chief thinks the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have played out in the numbers.

“We’ve all gone through one of the biggest traumas we’re ever going to experience in our life with the pandemic. I don’t know exactly how that’s impacted (crime), but it’s had an impact on people in general,” Smyth said. “You see the anxiety and the angst out there.”

He pointed to other factors, including mental health concerns and illicit drug use, especially the opioid crisis.

Cormier said more people are impoverished, meaning even their basic needs aren’t met, due to high inflation and other economic pressures.

“Is it a concern? Definitely. Is it terribly surprising? Not really, especially right now considering the (current) conditions.”–Criminologist Frank Cormier

“Is it a concern? Definitely. Is it terribly surprising? Not really, especially right now considering the (current) conditions,” he said about the violent crime figures.

“The answer is… reduce the number of people who (are) living these precarious, disorganized existences.”

He said it will require meeting people’s needs — food, water, shelter, health care and social services — as well as building a society in which people feel they belong.

Too many people are living on the fringe of society, Cormier said.

“There’s a lot of anger, a lot of resentment, a lot of drug and alcohol use.”

Mitch Bourbonniere, a social worker and activist who has worked with marginalized citizens, emphasized that Winnipeg is not unique when it comes to violence, homelessness, poverty, mental health and addictions.

“There are issues, that if we don’t get a handle on, it’s really going to get away from us,” he said.

The police service document shows total reported crimes increased to 72,059 incidents, compared with 57,373 in 2021. The five-year average was 61,596 crimes.

The report also shows property crimes, which make up the bulk of the figures, rang in at 52,567 incidents last year, compared to 30,825 in 2021. The five-year average was 43,700.

There were 712,078 calls for service in 2022 — a sizable increase from 671,364 in 2021 ‚ although the number of total dispatched incidents was about the same (234,212 in 2022 compared to 234,058 in 2021).

Winnipeg Police Service 2022 Statistical Report

— with files from Joyanne Pursaga

erik.pindera@winnipegfreepress.com

Twitter: @erik_pindera