Guelph's crime severity index, the crime rate per 100,000 residents, fell by eight per cent last year, shows data released by Statistics Canada, which cites a decrease in homicides, fraud, theft under $5,000 and robbery.
"The significant growth of our service over the last two years has assisted us in achieving these results in cooperation with our community partners,” said Guelph police Chief Gord Cobey, in a news release. “While we are certainly pleased with these improvements in our Crime Severity Index, the data continues to indicate that as one of the fastest-growing communities in Ontario we must continue to ensure proactive investment to sustain these improvements, support the wellness of our members and ensure our community remains safe, healthy and future-ready."
This overall decrease is a result of a 22 per cent drop in violent crime and down two per cent for non-violent crime.
On the police-reported violent crime index, Guelph reported the least amount of violent crime at 51.6 per 100,000 resident compared to other metropolitian areas in the country.
Where Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo is concerned, the rate was 86.6..
Guelph and Trois-Rivières, Que. were the only cities without reported homicides in 2021.
Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo had an increase of six per cent from 2020 to 2021 on the crime severity index due to an increase of theft over $5,000, breaking and entering.
The rate of sexual assault in 2021 is 26 per 100,000 in Guelph. It is based on a calculation of a population of 100,000. There was no difference between 2020 and 2021.
Uttering threats in 2021 in Guelph was 118 per 100,000. Up three per cent from 2020.
Violent crime was down seven per cent, property crime down four per cent, drug offences down 20 per cent and other Criminal Code offences was up 15 per cent from 2020 to 2021 in Guelph.
