The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Manitoba's crime rate shot up nearly 11 per cent last year, but Flin Flon bucked the trend by remaining stable. "We're not experiencing any significant change either way, be it an increase or a decrease," said Cpl. Leslie Beck. "Our crime pretty much is level." A new Statistics Canada report shows the level of crime across the province climbed 10.7 per cent in 2003. Only Saskatchewan, with an increase of 12.1 per cent, saw a bigger jump. The provincial increases were part of a trend that saw crime across Canada go up by six per cent, the first substantial gain in more than a decade. Statistics Canada said the rise was driven by a surge in counterfeiting, as well as an increase in property crimes and minor offences such as mischief and disturbing the peace. But some experts believe the statistics are deceiving, saying the increase is the result of changes that have made reporting minor crimes easier. Other findings from the nationwide report include: The violent crime rate remained virtually unchanged, but most categories of property crimes rose, including break-ins, motor vehicle thefts, possession of stolen goods and minor thefts. The national homicide rate fell seven per cent to its lowest level since 1967. The rate of drug crimes in Canada dropped eight per cent, the first decline since 1993. This was largely driven by a decrease in reported cannabis possession incidents. Of the more than 2.5 million Criminal Code incidents reported by police, 12 per cent were violent crimes, 51 per cent property crimes and 37 per cent other Criminal Code offences. See 'Crime' P.# Con't from P.# Crime rates increased in all provinces and territories except Ontario and the Yukon, where they remained stable. Thieves stole over 171,000 vehicles, up five per cent, putting the total at about the same level as a decade earlier. More than half (57 per cent) of these stolen vehicles were cars, but the rate of theft of trucks, mini-vans and SUVs rose at four times the pace of car thefts. Most violent crime categories recorded declines, except for robbery, which increased five per cent, and attempted murder, which rose four per cent. Saskatchewan reported the largest increase in homicides, from 27 in 2002 to 41 in 2003. This gave it the highest homicide rate in the country and also its highest provincial rate since 1977.
