Police Reported Crime: The best indicator of crime in Waterloo Region
The crime rate records the amount of police reported crime per 100,000 people. In this number, all crimes are counted equally. This represents approximately one third of the crime that occurs in Canada; this varies by jurisdiction and type of crime. The Crime Severity Index and the Violent Crime Severity Index weight crimes according to their severity based upon average sentencing outcomes. Crime and violence severity indices address the crime rate being driven by high-volume offences that are of a less serious nature.
The Statistics
Date Sources: Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey: CANSIM Table 2520051
Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey: CANSIM Table 2520052 (Released Annually)
The Story Behind the Numbers
Crime rates and the crime severity index in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo CMA have been trending downward for the past twelve years. However, the violence severity index appears to be trending upward. The increase in violence in the past two years is being caused mainly by increases in the number of youth and adult robberies.