Table 6
Police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2016 and 2017


Table 6
Police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2016 and 2017
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), 2016, 2017, Percent change in rate 2016 to 2017 and Percent change in rate 2007 to 2017, calculated using number, rate and percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Type of offence 2016Note r: revised 2017 Percent change in rate 2016 to 2017 Percent change in rate 2007 to 2017
number rate number rate percent
Total Criminal Code (excluding traffic) – "Crime rate" 1,912,752 5,274 1,958,023 5,334 1 -23
Total violent crime 388,564 1,071 403,201 1,098 3 -19
Homicide 612 2 660 2 7 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded
Other violations causing deathTable 6 Note 1 108 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 78 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -29 -18
Attempted murder 786 2 827 2 4 -7
Sexual assault - level 3 - aggravated 112 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 161 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 42 2
Sexual assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 395 1 417 1 4 -3
Sexual assault - level 1 21,072 58 24,094 66 13 3
Sexual violations against childrenTable 6 Note 2 Table 6 Note 3 Table 6 Note 4 7,334 20 8,046 22 8 Note ...: not applicable
Assault - level 3 - aggravated 3,466 10 3,541 10 1 -9
Assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 49,945 138 51,853 141 3 -15
Assault - level 1 159,592 440 163,034 444 1 -19
Assault against a peace officer 10,406 29 10,847 30 3 -2
Other assaults 1,863 5 1,952 5 4 -56
Firearms - use of, discharge, pointing 2,534 7 2,734 7 7 49
Robbery 21,958 61 22,739 62 2 -40
Forcible confinement or kidnapping 3,775 10 3,778 10 -1 -27
Trafficking in personsTable 6 Note 5 249 1 271 1 8 Note ...: not applicable
Extortion 3,075 8 3,133 9 1 102
Criminal harassment 18,960 52 19,438 53 1 -4
Uttering threats 60,909 168 62,074 169 1 -29
Indecent and harassing communicationsTable 6 Note 6 15,276 42 16,199 44 5 -45
Non-consensual distribution of intimate imagesTable 6 Note 7 833 2 1,469 4 74 Note ...: not applicable
Commodification of sexual activityTable 6 Note 8 759 2 1,106 3 44 Note ...: not applicable
Other violent Criminal Code violations 4,545 13 4,750 13 3 -3
Total property crime 1,169,445 3,225 1,191,089 3,245 1 -28
Breaking and entering 160,230 442 159,336 434 -2 -38
Possess stolen propertyTable 6 Note 9 20,538 57 23,869 65 15 -36
Theft of motor vehicle 79,055 218 85,020 232 6 -48
Theft over $5,000 (non-motor vehicle) 15,528 43 17,255 47 10 -11
Theft of $5,000 or under (non-motor vehicle) 496,976 1,370 504,557 1,375 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -22
Fraud (excluding identity theft and fraud)Table 6 Note 10 109,630 302 112,863 307 2 14
Identity theftTable 6 Note 10 3,136 9 3,267 9 3 Note ...: not applicable
Identity fraudTable 6 Note 10 14,033 39 14,275 39 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note ...: not applicable
MischiefTable 6 Note 11 261,773 722 262,116 714 -1 -38
Arson 8,546 24 8,531 23 -1 -41
Total other Criminal Code offences 354,743 978 363,733 991 1 -4
Weapons violations 15,240 42 15,785 43 2 -11
Child pornographyTable 6 Note 12 Table 6 Note 13 6,360 18 6,521 18 1 315
ProstitutionTable 6 Note 8 195 1 134 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -32 -97
TerrorismTable 6 Note 14 132 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 92 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -31 Note ...: not applicable
Disturb the peace 97,971 270 96,381 263 -3 -26
Administration of justice violations 206,834 570 216,836 591 4 18
Other violations 28,011 77 27,984 76 -1 -28
Total Criminal Code traffic violations 125,016 345 125,378 342 -1 -15
Alcohol impaired drivingTable 6 Note 15 Table 6 Note 16 68,168 188 65,558 179 -5 -26
Drug impaired drivingTable 6 Note 15 Table 6 Note 17 3,136 9 3,489 10 10 Note ...: not applicable
Other Criminal Code traffic violations 53,712 148 56,331 153 4 -5
Total drug offences 96,515 266 90,625 247 -7 -20
Possession - cannabis 44,919 124 38,498 105 -15 -27
Possession - cocaine 7,132 20 7,108 19 -2 -46
Possession - methamphetamines or ecstasyTable 6 Note 18 Table 6 Note 19 8,089 22 9,269 25 13 Note ...: not applicable
Possession - heroin 2,187 6 2,219 6 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note ...: not applicable
Possession - other drugsTable 6 Note 18 Table 6 Note 20 7,629 21 7,990 22 3 -15
Trafficking, production or import/export - cannabis 10,738 30 9,494 26 -13 -45
Trafficking, production or import/export - cocaine 7,278 20 6,803 19 -8 -46
Trafficking, production or import/export - methamphetamines or ecstasyTable 6 Note 18 Table 6 Note 19 2,365 7 2,666 7 11 Note ...: not applicable
Trafficking, production or import/export - heroin 924 3 1,015 3 9 Note ...: not applicable
Trafficking, production or import/export - other drugsTable 6 Note 18 Table 6 Note 20 5,254 14 5,563 15 5 -10
Total other federal statute violations 27,644 76 30,786 84 10 -6
Human trafficking under the Immigration and Refugee Protection ActTable 6 Note 21 102 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 104 0sNote: value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 1 Note ...: not applicable
Youth Criminal Justice Act 6,148 17 5,452 15 -12 -52
Other federal statutes 21,394 59 25,230 69 17 17
Total - all violations 2,161,927 5,962 2,204,812 6,006 1 -22
... 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 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 4

Includes sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, luring a child via telecommunications/agreement or arrangement, and making sexually explicit material available to a child for the purpose of facilitating sexual offences against children/youth, and the offences of parent or guardian procuring sexual activity, householder permitting prohibited sexual activity, agreement or arrangement of a sexual offence against a child, and bestiality in the presence of or inciting a child (s. 160 (3)). Incidents of child pornography are not included in the category of sexual violations against children.

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Note 5

Changes to the Criminal Code, including the introduction of new offences related to trafficking in persons were made in 2005, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 6

This offence was amended in the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act: Bill C-13 (2015) to include all means of telecommunication, not only phone calls.

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Note 7

Non-consensual distribution of intimate images is an offence created by the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act: Bill C-13 (2015), therefore the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 8

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” (C.C. 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 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 9

Includes trafficking and the intent to traffic stolen goods.

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Note 10

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 2007 to 2017 for fraud includes identity fraud and identity theft.

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Note 11

Includes altering/removing/destroying a vehicle identification number.

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Note 12

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 13

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”. 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 14

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 2007 to 2017 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 15

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 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note 16

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 17

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 18

Includes substances such as crystal meth, speed, etc. as well as ecstasy.

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Note 19

In April 2008, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey began counting violations involving methamphetamines (e.g., crystal meth) and ecstasy (MDA or MDMA) under their own unique violation codes. Prior to this, violations involving methamphetamines and ecstasy were counted within the category of “Other Drugs”. Therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 for violations involving methamphetamines, ecstasy or "Other Drugs" are not shown.

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Note 20

Includes all other drugs listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CSDA), such as prescription drugs, opioids such as Fentanyl, barbiturates, LSD, and "date rape" drugs. Trafficking and production of other drugs includes the possession, production, selling or importing of anything (such as precursors) with the knowledge that it will be used in the production or trafficking of a controlled substance (as defined in section 2(1) of the CSDA).

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Note 21

Includes human trafficking and human smuggling violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Data specific to these offences is not available prior to 2011, therefore, the percentage change from 2007 to 2017 is not shown.

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Note: 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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