Winnipeg records highest percentage increase of crime in country

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This article was published 24/07/2017 (2994 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A rise in the occurrence and severity of violent and property crime in Winnipeg is "significant," "concerning" and "terrible," say experts and politicians who can’t point to any exact cause, solution or who to blame.

According to Statistics Canada, the nation’s crime severity index increased one per cent in 2016. It marks the second consecutive increase following 11 years of decline.

Seven provinces and territories reported decreases in the crime index, while Saskatchewan (up nine per cent) and Manitoba (up eight per cent) reported increases.

From 2015 to 2016, 20 of 33 of Canada’s census metropolitan areas reported increases in their crime index — the largest increases were in Winnipeg (up 16 per cent), Regina (up 15 per cent) and Brantford, Ont. (up 13 per cent).

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In Winnipeg, the violent-crime severity index went up 20 per cent, said police Chief Danny Smyth.

"They are significant numbers," Smyth said Monday at a press conference to talk about the findings of the Winnipeg Police Service’s 2016 Statistical Report, also released Monday.

The WPS study measures the volume of crime coming to the attention of the justice system and focuses on what’s happening inside the Perimeter Highway.

"Our report is specific to Winnipeg," said Smyth, noting StatsCan’s crime severity index numbers for cities take into account the census metropolitan area. "It includes a lot of communities outside of Winnipeg, going right up to the Interlake."

The WPS report found an eight per cent increase in violent crimes and property crimes in 2016. Smyth attributed part of that increase to a rise in the cocaine, methamphetamine and opioid drug trade that resulted in more property and violent crimes, including robberies. Some users resorted to crime to feed their addiction and street gangs vying for territory waged "turf wars."

Another reason for the increase was the introduction of online reporting for property crimes. In 2016, Winnipeggers reported 4,000 more incidents than in 2015 using the online tool, Smyth said.

One bright spot in the WPS report was a dramatic drop in youth property crimes, which fell 29 per cent in 2016.

"The decline in youth property crime is welcome, particularly with the number of kids in Manitoba in care and technically ‘at-risk’ of becoming involved in crime," said Prof. Michael Weinrath, director of the Justice Research Institute at the University of Winnipeg.

"Although most kids in care don’t end up involved in crime, it certainly creates risky conditions," said Weinrath, adding he thinks the many non-profit groups and community programs in Winnipeg deserve some of the credit for the decrease.

"Manitoba Corrections has run two successful programs for a number of years: Spotlight intensive supervision for gang youth and the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression program," he said. "Let’s hope that the Tories continue to support some of these programs that have had an impact."

NDP justice critic Andrew Swan said the previous government had been making progress on the crime front, but the Progressive Conservatives aren’t making safety a priority. Nor do they appear to understand the factors that lead to criminal behaviour, he added, calling the crime figures for Winnipeg and Manitoba "terrible."

Illegal drug use is driving up crime numbers as users resort to robberies and break-and-enters to get the money to feed their habit, said Swan, adding the Tories have remained silent about what he calls an illegal-drug “crisis” in Manitoba.

The government’s information campaign against illegal opioid use is being carried out “on the cheap,” he alleged. “Other provinces, other states see illegal drugs as a public health and a public information issue. It seems that our government is putting all its energy into fighting the feds over legalized cannabis.”

Manitoba Justice Minister Heather Stefanson called the statistics released Monday "concerning," and said the government is working on improving them.

"We recognize there is much work to be done to improve the criminal justice system in Manitoba," Stefanson said in an email. "Our government inherited significant challenges from the previous administration and we are working hard to improve the delivery of justice in the province.

"We have undertaken a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system in order to target the systemic issues that hinder efforts in crime prevention and restorative justice. Manitoba Justice will partner with all stakeholders in the justice system to find solutions to these challenges and improve safety for all Manitobans.”

University of Winnipeg criminologist Steven Kohm said it’s important to keep in mind crime rates and severity have always tended to be higher in the Prairies.

"Sure, the (crime severity index) is up in Winnipeg this year, but it’s also up in other Prairie cities like Regina and Edmonton," Kohm said. "Setting aside the year-to-year changes, both CSI and police-reported crime are higher actually in those other two Prairie cities, perhaps because of the downturn in the oil economy.

"Overall, I’m not sure we can draw too many conclusions about causes. The Prairies have always tended to be higher than the eastern half of the country. In Manitoba and Winnipeg, our crime rates are still lower than they were in the 1990s, but yes, there has been a bit of an uptick in recent years."

The uptick may raise questions about "value for money," said Kohm. "Given recent concerns about the ongoing expense of the (Winnipeg) police helicopter, the armoured-vehicle purchase and our investment in more boots on the ground, does this translate into less crime? If not, perhaps we need a new strategy."

Winnipeg’s police chief said he doesn’t think that those policing tools could reduce crime rates.

"That would be overstating the equipment," Smyth said. "Those are tools that have use in certain tactical situations. I don’t know that I would tie that in with overall crime rates."

He expects the negative crime stats will generate negative headlines. So what headline would the police chief write, if he could?

"We’re doing our best and trying to keep a lid on it."

— with files from Larry Kusch

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca