Winnipeg police say they saw a slight drop in violent crime in 2024, while other crimes like shoplifting saw a spike. The service’s 2024 statistical report, released Wednesday, shows the city had a 1.4 per cent decline in overall violent crime compared to 2023. “For the first time in four years, the volume of violent crime has declined,” Police Chief Gene Bowers wrote in the report. “While it is not a drastic decrease, there is a more significant reduction in how serious the crimes are, which is reflected in both the violent and non-violent crime indexes.” Bowers added that 2024 was the first meaningful decrease in violent crime severity in more than a decade. However, the five-year average of violent crime in Winnipeg shows a 20.6 per cent increase and a 55.6 per cent clearance rate. The report shows there were 41 homicides in Winnipeg in 2024, down from 44 in 2023. There were 2,894 assaults with a weapon or causing bodily harm, a 6.3 per cent drop since 2023. Police are also reporting a 28 per cent drop in aggravated assaults, with 157 reported last year. Other areas of violent crime, however, saw increases. Sex assaults with a weapon increased 75 per cent over 2023, with 28 incidents reported in 2024. Police cleared half of them. Police also reported a 27.3 per cent uptick in extortion, with 210 cases reported in 2024. Over the past five years, extortion cases have jumped by 265.9 per cent. Bowers said public safety remains a focus for the police service. “We don’t accept being the most violent city in Canada,” he said. Bowers noted increased enforcement and collaboration between community organizations, such as the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, have bee making a difference. “It’s like a blanket of safety,” he said. “We know what’s going on in the city, and we’ll make sure our resources are spread out so we have good coverage.” Shoplifting spikes in Winnipeg The report showed a significant spike in shoplifting in 2024. According to the report, police investigated 8,530 reports of shoplifting under $5,000 – a 41.1 per cent increase from 2023. The number is higher among youth, with a 49.6 per cent increase in 2024. Insp. Cam Mackid, superintendent of investigations, said a lot of the shoplifting and property crime they’re seeing is a crime of opportunity. “We’re not seeing, to be honest, a lot of shoplifting or property crime to feed a family,” he said. “I know that’s a narrative we do hear.” Mackid said if they do come across a situation like that, their response is to connect people with resources to help them with their needs. Bear spray crime drops Regarding weapons crimes, the city has seen a reduction in the number of crimes committed with bear spray. The number of crimes involving bear spray dropped 29.4 per cent in 2024, with 633 crimes reported. This number is down from 896 reported in 2023. New rules regulating the sale of bear spray took effect in 2023 following a spate of attacks involving the substance. Retailers must now verify a customer’s identification, send the information to the government, and ask people what they intend to use the product for before selling it. Winnipeg police also reported a 14.3 per cent year-over-year drop in knife crime in 2024. However, firearm crime slightly rose by 2.3 per cent, from 474 in 2023 to 485 in 2024. The full report can be read here. This is a developing story. More details to come.
