Canada's overall crime rate has hit a 25-year low in 2006, but Greater Sudbury's number rose by eight percent. The numbers were released by Statistics Canada Wednesday.
Sudbury's total criminal code offences tallied 6,219 for 2006, up from 5,769 in 2005. The jump is attributed to violent crimes robberies and assaults—which made up a 23 percent leap.
Robberies were up 41 percent, while common assaults and level-two assaults were up 22 percent and 36 percent respectively.
Sudbury is still below the national average for crime.
The number has also dropped significantly from 10 years ago. In 1997, the total criminal code offences were 7,505. In 2001, the number reached 7,535.
Out of 18 cities with a population between 100,000 and 499,999, Sudbury sits 12th, behind communities such as London, Thunder Bay, Saskatoon and Regina.
Here are the numbers for selected offences for Sudbury.
Total violent crimes is 908, homicides are 1.2, robberies tallied 74, total property crimes reached 3,137, breaks in accounted for 800 while motor vehicle theft was 326.
The overall Canadian rate was down due to a decline in non-violent crime.
The rate dropped by three percent due to decreases in break-ins, thefts under $5,000 and counterfeiting. The national crime rate has dropped by about 30 percent since peaking in 1991.
The rate fell in every province and territory, with the biggest drops reported in Prince Edward Island, Alberta, New Brunswick, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
In terms of violent crime, rates declined or remained stable in all provinces, except for slight increases in Quebec and Saskatchewan. Similarly, property crime rates declined or remained unchanged in all provinces and territories. The largest drop in property crime rates was in Saskatchewan, down 13 percent.
Among Canada's census metropolitan areas (CMAs), the largest declines in overall crime occurred in the West: Saskatoon ( minus nine percent), Abbotsford (minus eight percent) and Regina (minus eight percent).
The largest increases were reported in London (plus nine percent), followed by Sudbury (plus eight percent) and Saguenay (plus eight percent). Despite the increase, Saguenay still reported the lowest crime rate.
Police reported 605 homicides in 2006, 58 fewer than in 2005. This resulted in a rate of 1.85 homicides per 100,000 population, 10 percent lower than in 2005. The national homicide rate has generally been declining since the mid-1970s, when it was around 3.0.
While overall violent crime remained stable, most serious violent crimes were on the rise, a situation similar to 2005. Police reported 852 attempted murders, 30 more than in 2005 and the second consecutive annual increase.
The number of aggravated assaults, the most serious form of assault, also increased for the second year in a row, rising five percent. Assaults with a weapon/causing bodily harm continued its upward trend, rising four percent. This resulted in the highest rate for this offence since it was introduced into the Criminal Code in 1983.
Police reported about 30,000 robberies in 2006, pushing the rate up six percent. This is the second consecutive annual increase in the rate of robberies.
The rate of break-ins in Canada dropped to its lowest level in over 30 years. Since peaking in 1991, the rate has fallen 50 percent, including a five percent drop in 2006. Police reported roughly 250,000 break-ins last year, almost 6 in 10 of which involved residences.
Motorists reported about 160,000 stolen vehicles in 2006. During the past decade, the rate of vehicle thefts has declined 20 percent, including a two percent decrease last year alone.
The youth crime rate includes all young persons aged 12 to 17 accused of committing a crime, whether they were formally charged by police or dealt with by other means such as a warning, caution, or referral to a diversionary program.
The youth crime rate increased three percent in 2006, the first increase since 2003. Violent crime among youth rose three percent, while property crime dropped three percent. "Other" Criminal Code offences, such as mischief and disturbing the peace, were up nine percent.
