Canada's crime rate lowest since 1972

Statistics Canada says the police-reported crime rate fell by three per cent in 2012 compared with the previous year. Nearly two million incidents involving criminal activity were reported by police in 2012, roughly 36,000 fewer than in the previous year. (Paul Daly/Canadian Press)

Canada's police services are once again reporting fewer crimes, a continuing trend that has cut the national crime rate to its lowest level since 1972.

Statistics Canada says the police-reported crime rate fell by three per cent in 2012 compared with the previous year.

The severity of crimes committed was also down by three per cent in 2012, according to StatsCan's Crime Severity Index (CSI), a tool used to measure the seriousness of crimes based on the length of sentences handed down by the courts. More serious crimes, those that result in longer sentences, have a greater impact on changes to the index.

Police-reported crime has been on a steady decline since peaking in 1991.

Police services reported nearly two million incidents involving criminal activity in 2012, roughly 36,000 fewer than in the previous year.

"The police-reported crime rate has followed a downward trend, and, in 2012, reached its lowest level since 1972," Statistics Canada said in its latest report.

"The CSI was down 28 per cent over the 10 years since 2002."

Although there has been a trend toward a reduced crime rate and fewer severe crimes, spending on criminal justice continues to rise.

Also, the Conservatives have introduced at least 30 bills designed to crack down on crime since Prime Minister Stephen Harper won power in 2006.

Per capita spending on criminal justice — including federal and provincial jails, court costs and policing — climbed 23 per cent over the last decade, the Parliamentary budget office reported in March.

The report put the price tag at $20.3 billion in 2011-12, with roughly three quarters of that total carried by the provinces and municipalities.

Both the police-reported crime rate and the CSI fell in most provinces last year, although rates increased in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the territories.

Saskatchewan reported the biggest decline in its crime rate, but still had the highest rate and CSI among the provinces.

Crime rates, and the severity of crimes as in previous years, were higher in the territories and the western provinces.

Ontario police services reported the lowest crime rate and CSI.