Editor's note: In the print version of this story, "Violent crime up among youth" in the Aug. 1 issue of The Reminder, statistics relating to crime severity in Manitoba are incorrectly attributed to Flin Flon. The Reminder regrets the error.
Crime statistics are down in Flin Flon, but a report from Statistics Canada shows the severity of crime and violent crime has increased over the last year in Manitoba.
Reports from Statistics Canada show the severity of youth violent crime showed the highest increase out of all types of crime, coming in at an increase of 39.84 per cent. The percent change in severity of violent crime committed overall in the province increased by 4.51 per cent.
The severity of non-violent crime committed by youth decreased in Manitoba by 6.87 per cent in 2017, while the severity of non-violent crime committed overall increased by 1.7 per cent in the same year.
In Flin Flon, the severity of violent crime increased by 3.31 per cent in 2017, however overall crime severity decreased by 15.38 per cent.
The Crime Severity Index measures changes in the level of severity of crime. All crimes in the index are assigned a weight based on their seriousness, which is determined by court sentences handed down by courts in all provinces and territories. More serious crimes are assigned higher weights, which means they have a greater impact on the changes in the index.
Statistics Canada reports that the overall crime rate in Flin Flon decreased by 9.46 per cent in 2017. Adults were charged with the most crimes reported in Flin Flon in 2017 – 165 adults were charged, while 32 youth were charged. More youth were charged in 2017 than in any of the previous three years.
In terms of communities with similar populations to Flin Flon, Statistics Canada shows The Pas saw a 5.44 increase in its crime rate and a 66.58 per cent increase in crime severity. Stonewall saw an 18.8 per cent decrease in its crime rate. No information is available on its crime severity. Humboldt, Sask., saw a 4.1 per cent decrease in crime in 2017, and a 0.39 per cent decrease in crime severity.
