Table 6
Police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2015 and 2016

Table 6
Police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2015 and 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Police-reported crime for selected offences. The information is grouped by Type of offence (appearing as row headers), 2015, 2016, Percent change in rate 2015 to 2016 and Percent change in rate 2006 to 2016, calculated using number, rate and percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Type of offence 2015Note r: revised 2016 Percent change in rate 2015 to 2016 Percent change in rate 2006 to 2016
number rate number rate percent
Total Criminal Code (excluding traffic) – "Crime rate" 1,867,833 5,210 1,895,546 5,224 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -28
Total violent crime 382,115 1,066 381,594 1,052 -1 -24
Homicide 609 2 611 2 -1 -9
Other violations causing deathTable 6 Note 1 84 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 97 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 14 -46
Attempted murder 777 2 777 2 -1 -17
Sexual assault - level 3 - aggravated 103 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 111 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 6 -45
Sexual assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 379 1 379 1 -1 -13
Sexual assault - level 1 20,466 57 20,524 57 -1 -15
Sexual violations against childrenTable 6 Note 2 Table 6 Note 3 Table 6 Note 4 Table 6 Note 5 5,256 15 6,917 19 30 Note ...: not applicable
Assault - level 3 - aggravated 3,320 9 3,395 9 1 -9
Assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 47,388 132 48,626 134 1 -18
Assault - level 1 157,046 438 156,279 431 -2 -24
Assault police officer 9,872 28 9,967 27 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -7
Other assaults 2,151 6 2,051 6 -6 -47
Firearms - use of, discharge, pointing 2,358 7 2,465 7 3 45
Robbery 22,149 62 21,806 60 -3 -43
Forcible confinement or kidnapping 3,593 10 3,783 10 4 -24
Abduction 384 1 378 1 -3 -34
Extortion 3,055 9 3,003 8 -3 95
Criminal harassment 20,038 56 18,825 52 -7 -19
Uttering threats 62,815 175 60,448 167 -5 -31
Threatening or harassing phone calls 14,586 41 15,225 42 3 -50
Commodification of sexual activityTable 6 Note 6 632 2 708 2 11 Note ...: not applicable
Other violent Criminal Code violations 5,054 14 5,219 14 2 9
Total property crime 1,153,700 3,218 1,163,647 3,207 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -33
Breaking and entering 159,630 445 159,119 439 -2 -43
Possess stolen propertyTable 6 Note 7 20,007 56 20,279 56 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -49
Theft of motor vehicle 78,800 220 78,710 217 -1 -55
Theft over $5,000 (non-motor vehicle) 15,444 43 15,415 42 -1 -19
Theft of $5,000 or under (non-motor vehicle) 487,176 1,359 495,639 1,366 1 -28
FraudTable 6 Note 8 94,425 263 108,513 299 14 Note ...: not applicable
Identity fraudTable 6 Note 8 11,894 33 13,918 38 16 Note ...: not applicable
Identity theftTable 6 Note 8 2,541 7 3,105 9 21 Note ...: not applicable
MischiefTable 6 Note 9 274,816 767 260,455 718 -6 -38
Arson 8,967 25 8,494 23 -6 -42
Total other Criminal Code offences 332,018 926 350,305 965 4 -8
Counterfeiting 675 2 795 2 16 -38
Weapons violations 14,535 41 15,016 41 2 -17
Child pornographyTable 6 Note 10 Table 6 Note 11 4,380 12 6,245 17 41 233
ProstitutionTable 6 Note 6 150 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 219 1 44 Note ...: not applicable
TerrorismTable 6 Note 12 156 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 132 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -16 Note ...: not applicable
Disturb the peace 103,892 290 97,554 269 -7 -25
Administration of justice violations 179,271 500 203,265 560 12 9
Other violations 28,959 81 27,079 75 -8 -27
Total Criminal Code traffic violations 125,882 351 123,930 342 -3 -9
Alcohol impaired drivingTable 6 Note 13 Table 6 Note 14 69,115 193 67,411 186 -4 Note ...: not applicable
Drug impaired drivingTable 6 Note 13 Table 6 Note 15 2,755 8 3,098 9 11 Note ...: not applicable
Other Criminal Code traffic violations 54,012 151 53,421 147 -2 4
Total drug offences 99,827 278 95,417 263 -6 -11
Possession - cannabis 49,949 139 44,301 122 -12 -10
Possession - cocaine 7,356 21 7,056 19 -5 -46
Possession - methamphetaminesTable 6 Note 16 Table 6 Note 17 6,193 17 7,673 21 22 Note ...: not applicable
Possession - heroin 1,606 4 2,143 6 32 216
Possession - methylenedioxyamphetamineTable 6 Note 17 Table 6 Note 18 418 1 255 1 -40 Note ...: not applicable
Possession - other drugsTable 6 Note 17 Table 6 Note 19 7,121 20 7,695 21 7 Note ...: not applicable
Trafficking, production or distribution - cannabisTable 6 Note 20 10,978 31 10,639 29 -4 -39
Trafficking, production or distribution - cocaine 7,918 22 7,161 20 -11 -40
Trafficking, production or distribution - methamphetaminesTable 6 Note 16 Table 6 Note 17 1,926 5 2,153 6 10 Note ...: not applicable
Trafficking, production or distribution - heroin 781 2 912 3 15 126
Trafficking, production or distribution - methylenedioxyamphetamineTable 6 Note 17 Table 6 Note 18 236 1 196 1 -18 Note ...: not applicable
Trafficking, production or distribution - other drugsTable 6 Note 17 Table 6 Note 19 5,345 15 5,233 14 -3 Note ...: not applicable
Total other federal statute violations 25,139 70 27,652 76 9 -13
Youth Criminal Justice Act 7,063 20 6,076 17 -15 -45
Other federal statutes 18,076 50 21,576 59 18 5
Total - all violations 2,118,681 5,910 2,142,545 5,905 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -26
... not applicable
0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded
r revised
Note 1

Includes, for example, criminal negligence causing death.

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Note 2

Excludes sexual assaults against children and youth, which are reported as level 1, 2 or 3 sexual assault.

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Note 3

Sexual violations against children is a relatively new crime category with only partial data available prior to 2010, therefore the percentage change from 2006 to 2016 is not shown.

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Note 4

Includes sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, luring a child via a computer/agreement or arrangement, and making sexually explicit material available to a child for the purpose of facilitating sexual offences against children/youth, and, as of December 2014, the offences of parent or guardian procuring sexual activity (Criminal Code, s. 170), and householder permitting prohibited sexual activity (Criminal Code, s. 171) are also included. Incidents of child pornography are not included in the category of sexual violations against children.

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Note 5

Coming into effect on July 17th, 2015, Bill C-26 increased the maximum penalties for certain sexual offences against children, including failure to comply with orders and probation conditions relating to sexual offences against children. In the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, the most serious violation is partially determined by the maximum penalty. As such, changes in maximum penalty may affect the most serious violation in an incident reported by police. Police services are able to utilize these amendments as their Records Management Systems are updated to allow them.

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Note 6

In December 2014, new legislation came into effect governing prostitution-related activities. The new legislation targets “the exploitation that is inherent in prostitution and the risks of violence posed to those who engage in it” (Criminal Code, Chapter 25, preamble). New violations classified as “Commodification of Sexual Activity” under “Violent Crime” include: the purchasing of sexual services or communicating for that purpose, receiving a material benefit deriving from the purchase of sexual services, procuring of persons for the purpose of prostitution, and advertising sexual services offered for sale. In addition, a number of other offences related to prostitution continue to be considered non-violent offences and are classified under “Other Criminal Code Offences”. These include communicating to provide sexual services for consideration, and stopping or impeding traffic for the purpose of offering, providing or obtaining sexual services for consideration. Therefore, the percentage change from 2006 to 2016 is not shown.

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Note 7

Includes trafficking and the intent to traffic stolen goods.

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Note 8

In January 2010, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey was modified to create new violation codes for identity fraud and identity theft. Prior to 2010, those offences would have been coded as fraud. Therefore, the percentage change from 2006 to 2016 is not shown.

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Note 9

Includes altering/removing/destroying a vehicle identification number.

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Note 10

Due to the complexity of these cyber incidents, the data likely reflect the number of active or closed investigations for the year rather than the total number of incidents reported to police. Data are based on police-reported incidents that are recorded in police services’ records management systems.

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Note 11

The offence of “Child Pornography” includes offences under section 163.1 of the Criminal Code which makes it illegal to access, possess, make, print, or distribute child pornography. When the actual victim is not identified, this offence is reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey with the most serious offence being “Child Pornography” which falls under the larger crime category of “Other Criminal Code Offences”. In cases where an actual victim is identified, police will report the most serious offence as sexual assault, sexual exploitation or other sexual violations against children, which falls under the category of “Violent Violations”, and child pornography may be reported as a secondary violation.

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Note 12

Includes seven new terrorism violations which were introduced mid-year 2013, as a result of the enactment of Bill S-7 (An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Security of Information Act). An additional terrorism violation code was introduced in late 2015, as a result of the enactment of Bill C-51 Anti-terrorism Act (2015). Therefore, comparisons to previous years should be made with caution. Terrorism is a relatively new crime category with only partial data available prior to 2010; therefore, the percentage change from 2006 to 2016 is not shown. Due to the length of time for investigations to confirm whether or not the incident is founded, annual counts of terrorism offences are subject to revisions downwards when revised data are released one year after the initial release. Therefore, changes between the current year of data and the previous year should be interpreted with caution.

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Note 13

In 2008, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey was modified to create new violation codes for drug impaired operation of a vehicle, drug impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of drugs and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. Prior to 2008, those offences would have been coded together with alcohol impaired driving violations. Therefore, the percentage change from 2006 to 2016 is not shown.

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Note 14

Includes alcohol impaired operation of a vehicle, alcohol impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of alcohol and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. In some jurisdictions, including British Columbia, impaired driving incidents that meet the elements of the Criminal Code may be handled using a provincial statute. Collection of these incidents is within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 15

Includes drug impaired operation of a vehicle, drug impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of drugs and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. In some jurisdictions, including British Columbia, impaired driving incidents that meet the elements of the Criminal Code may be handled using a provincial statute. Collection of these incidents is within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 16

Includes substances such as crystal meth, speed, etc.

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Note 17

In April 2008, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey began counting violations involving methamphetamines (e.g., crystal meth) and methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) (e.g., ecstasy) under their own unique violation codes. Prior to this, violations involving methamphetamines and MDA were counted within the category of “Other Drugs”. Therefore, the percentage change from 2006 to 2016 for violations involving methamphetamines, MDA or "Other Drugs" are not shown.

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Note 18

Referred to as MDA for short, and commonly known as ecstasy.

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Note 19

Includes all other drugs listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as well as possession of precursors and equipment.

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Note 20

In 2016, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment in Montréal underwent an exercise in making corrective measures to address under-counting of incidents importation/exportation and trafficking of drug offences. In response, Statistics Canada applied estimates to the 2015 revised data. As a result, numbers and rates from 2015 onwards should not be compared to data prior to 2015.

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Note: Additional data are available on CANSIM (Table 252-0051). Police-reported statistics may be affected by differences in the way police services deal with offences. In some instances, police or municipalities might choose to deal with some offences using municipal by-laws or provincial provisions rather than Criminal Code provisions. Counts are based on the most serious violation in the incident. One incident may involve multiple violations. Data for specific types of crime are available, in most cases, from 1977. Rates are calculated on the basis of 100,000 population. Percentage changes are based on unrounded rates. Populations are based upon July 1st estimates from Statistics Canada, Demography Division.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.
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