Highest level of violent crime in Winnipeg since 2009
Posted May 30, 2023 12:02 pm.
Last Updated May 31, 2023 9:10 am.
The total number of crimes increased by more than 25 per cent in Winnipeg last year, including the highest level of violent crime in 13 years.
That’s according to the 2022 statistical report provided by the Winnipeg Police Service Wednesday.
It shows a 12 per cent increase in crimes committed with a knife from 2021; a 32 per cent increase in property crime and a 43 per cent increase in youth crime.
It also reveals a 100 per cent increase in bear spray-related offences from 2019.
There was a record 53 homicides in 2022.
WATCH: Winnipeg breaks homicide record (Nov. 6, 2022)
Offenders on bail accounted for one-in-five cleared violent crimes, with chief of police Danny Smyth stressing the need for bail reform for violent offenders.
“I’ve been a cop here in Winnipeg for a long time, so I’ve had the perspective to see trends rise and fall, and right now, we’re seeing the trend rise,” said Smyth. “This is not new territory for Winnipeg, but of course, it’s concerning.”
Calls to emergency dispatchers increased six per cent from 2021, with nearly 2,000 calls daily on average.
Emergency dispatched events increased 11.9 per cent from 2021.
While the WPS says most of the trends “were of great concern,” Smyth maintains Winnipeg is still a safe city.
“In the coming years, the challenge will be to determine and make sense of how this environment impacted people, crime trends, and police-related calls for service,” Winnipeg police said.
“I would say yes, our city is safe,” Smyth added. “I think one thing you have to keep in mind when we do these statistical reports, it’s a compilation of aggregate data, and that’s not the way crime works. Crime can be very disparate depending on where you live. Aggregate data can give a false impression sometimes, and paint the city as a complete war zone when it’s not, there’s a lot of disparity between communities in the city.”
Smyth there is a concentration of violent crime and property crime in the central and west districts seeing a combined 56.9 per cent.
He says efforts are being made to ensure officers are dispatched where are needed.
“We know that a small number of offenders commit a good chunk of the crimes, we think if we can target those particular offenders, we can make a difference.”
Five-year averages
- Total crime: +17 per cent (returned to pre-pandemic upward trend)
- Property crime: +20.3 per cent (returned to pre-pandemic upward trend after historic low)
- Youth crime: -13.7 per cent (declining steadily for many years)
- Calls to dispatchers: +13.6 per cent
- Emergency dispatched events: +17.9 per cent
