Violent crime up 20% in Peterborough

Violent crime in the Peter borough census metropolitan area was up 20 per cent in 2016 from 2015, according to Statistics Canada.

The government agency released its annual national reported crime statistics report on Monday.

Peterborough census metropolitan area (CMA) includes the City of Peterborough, Cavan Monaghan, Selwyn, Douro-Dummer and Otonabee-South Monaghan townships and Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations.

Violent crimes are crimes against another person, as opposed to property crimes.

Peterborough CMA’s violent crime increase was one of the highest in Canada. Brantford had the largest increase up 27 per cent year-over-year, while TroisRiveres had the largest decrease, dropping by 23 per cent.

Statistics Canada measures police-reported crime using a Crime Severity Index (CSI), which looks at the volume and severity of crimes.

Peterborough CMA’s crime severity is lower than the national average, sitting at 69. The national average is 75.3.

In March, city police released its annual report, stating reported overall crimes had increased by five per cent in 2016, compared to 2015.

Peterborough Police Chief Murray Rodd said that city police calculates its numbers based on year-over-year numbers while Stats Canada weighs it to incidents per 100,000 population.

That’s where the difference in the two organization’s reports comes in, along with the fact that Stats Canada includes areas outside the City of Peterborough, Rodd said.

Much of the violent crime in the city in 2016 can be attributed to the Ugly Crew, he said.

But that gang is off the streets now, Rodd said, after police made nine arrests and seized drugs and guns in the fall.

“That drove up a lot of the violent crime stats,” said Rodd, referring to the Ugly Crew’s work.

Another reason for the high increase was homicides.

Those are standalone incidents though, the chief added.

“They’re not usually associated with crime waves. They’re just isolated incidents of circumstances or lifestyles or passion,” he said.

Looking back, Rodd said the city has averaged about two to three murders a year for a number of years.

There were two homicides in 2016, and five attempted homicides. In 2015, there was one homicide in 2015 and two attempts.

Rodd noted the attempts were up, but said many attempted murder charges often get reclassified as aggravated assaults in court and they’re typically connected to drugs.

Out of Ontario’s 54 police jurisdictions, Peterborough ranks 12th in terms of violent crime, Rodd said.

It’s clearance rate for solving crimes is 6th highest in the province out of the 54 jurisdictions.

“So when these occurrences occur, we’re very effective at concluding them successfully and bringing people to justice and preventing re-victimization,” said Rodd.

The police chief encourages residents to continue to report crime as it happens and stand up when needed.

“We hope people will step up and participate in the criminal justice system to be witnesses and to support victims in the prosecution process. All of that is an investment in a safer community.”

Officials with Peterborough County OPP couldn’t be reached for comment.