Violent crime on the rise in Calgary

CTV Calgary: Crime statistics report from Stats Can A new Statistics Canada report says violent crime is on the rise in Calgary while it is dropping nation-wide. Bill Marks reports.

In a year that saw a drop in the rate of violent crime in Canada, the City of Calgary has seen just the opposite.

The latest numbers from Statistics Canada, released on Wednesday, say that Calgary violent crime rate rose, even though the general crime rate dropped.

Calgary was among three other census metropolitan areas that recorded increased in its Violent Crime Severity Index. Trois-Rivieres, QC, St. John's, NFLD, and Brantford, ON, were also in the list.

The homicide rate is at the lowest point in nearly 50 years, Statistics Canada says, and the crime severity index has dropped in nearly all categories.

However, several recent high-profile crimes have caught the attention of many, such as the deadly stabbings in Brentwood or the murders of Nathan O’Brien and his grandparents.

Police say those crimes don’t reflect the risks most people face, as the majority of violent incidents are targeted attacks.

However, Calgary is still well short of having the most violent crimes in Canada.

That distinction is shared by Regina and Saskatoon.

You can read the findings of Statistics Canada here.