Crime stats: Perception and reality

The Spec's Nicole O'Reilly reports:

'Hamilton's crime rate decreased more last year than the national average, a report released by Statistics Canada yesterday revealed.

There were 2.2 million crimes reported to police in Canada in 2009, down 43,000 from the year before and continuing a decade-long trend of reductions in the volume and severity of crime, the report said.

"It represents a 3 per cent decrease in rate, " said Mia Dauvergne, a senior analyst with Statistics Canada.

And it's 17 per cent lower than a decade ago.

Crime in the Hamilton metropolitan area -- which for Statistics Canada's purposes also includes Burlington OPP numbers and 40 per cent of Halton crime -- decreased by 5 per cent.

Looking at statistics just from the Hamilton Police Service released earlier this year, crime dropped 7 per cent in 2009.

Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire said he was encouraged reading the report because "Hamilton is right in line" with Canada and Ontario.

The Hamilton area dropped 5 per cent on the crime severity index, compared with a 4 per cent drop in the national average. The area ranks 24th out of 33 metropolitan areas.

The city ranks 16th out of 23 on the crime severity index and is down 4 per cent. The national average declined 1 per cent.

Dauvergne said the index is calculated by attaching a number to a particular crime based on how severely it is punished in court.

Nationally, car thefts, break-ins and mischief cases accounted for most of the decline.

While the Hamilton area used by Statistics Canada reported a 4 per cent drop in property crimes last year, Hamilton police alone saw a 2 per cent increase, largely attributed to a high-end vehicle theft ring.

De Caire said vehicle theft is an area that police continue to focus on in Hamilton.

Violent crimes, which are all crimes that involve a victim, accounted nationally for about 20 per cent of crimes in 2009. It decreased, but just slightly.

In the Hamilton area, violent crime fell 6 per cent and Hamilton police found a 7 per cent decrease.'

What do you think? Do you believe the stats? Do you feel safer? Is there a disconnect between perception and reality over crime? If so, why?

Comments

[Ed2]

Here's a reality for you. A person who commits a crime abroad can choose to come back to the 'Karla Suite' at Club Fed.

Now isn't that accountability Canadian Style.

Possibly we should build foreign Canadian prison so the criminals won't have the need to travel, nor accuse us of cruel and unusual punishment to be encarcerated far away from home.

[Gary]

I would not mind getting violated by US Steel if I made the ridiculous wage you guys did! Violate Me US Steel!!!

[Gene Simmons]

No, that's not what I'm saying, Dr. Shart. I believe I said "people looking for an argument". I did not say "I was looking for an argument". In one instance, I was watching a little boy as he stomped a cardboard box and I was asked nastily by an obese teenage girl, a complete stranger, sitting on a bench nowhere near the child, what I was staring at. (So, what, I have to keep my eyes glued to the sidewalk at all times??) I'm saying if people have issues, I'm not responding to them anymore, I'm simply walking away.

[Dr. Shart]

So what you are saying Gene is that you provoked these confrontations if you now are "minding my own business and keeping my mouth shut when I'm downtown from now on."

[Gene Simmons]

Well, I have had two "run-in's" in the past few months in the downtown core with strange people looking for an argument. And there would have been crime statistics had the people in either of the incidents decided to kick my butt. That's why I'm minding my own business and keeping my mouth shut when I'm downtown from now on.

[jerry H.]

Downtown Hamilton is safe depending on who you are. Most middle-aged folks like myself who are well-dressed and have a destination in mind will encounter few problems. Younger men and women unfortunately are targets for violent attacks and sexual harassment. I personally think that even more dangerous than Barton and Sherman is Hess and King... The number of drunk arrogant kids walking around looking to display their physical dominance over non-confrontational persons disgusts me. I frown upon my adult sons going to this place because of the high likelihood for a hospital visit. We've even seen police officers get into fist fights with each other in this most vile and self-important district.

[kevv]

crime isnt down it just shifted to lawers , insurance companies and the government

[jeanette mcmanus]

too many parents sail up and down the old de nial boat cruise,...has anyone ever saw parents giving thier offspring a good finger wagging?, ...but then again you need to start at age 5or6,..not fifteen or sixteen,also do a room check now and again, after all if anything is not quite right then put it in the fire,...except spray cans they will explode or set your place on fire!,...if a policeman is looking for anything at your home and finds'stuff' you cant blame your little sunshines pal!, the house can be confiscated and you can be made homeless, you parents wont feel so proud then!.

[Kathy Hagan]

I do not think that crime is actually down the statistics are misleading. I believe many crimes are not reported. However, the question of perception of safety vs reality for me boils down to this. I walk daily from Charlton and James st to the waterfront, passing through the gore park area, Jackson square etc and the reality for me is I have never had a problem with anyone and that includes walking home sometimes during mid evening hours.
I have noticed a increase in police presence especially around Barton/ Cannon and James mostly bicycle patrol and foot officers.

[Brenda-Lee]

Car theft has dropped due to the car dealers building the vehicles with better security, Domestic abuse with children involved, has become more hidden due to police procedures to report all calls to children’s aid(touchy situation), Alot of the baby boomers are on some sort of pill prescribed by the doctor to calm their anxieties, of stress over financial problems and homelessness or even social haters, and a oxy and a perk pill for pain caused by rotten teeth or aching bones that should be dealt with by a professional like a dentist or a bone specialist (not a addictive drug.)That is being sold on the street for a second family income????? We already loaded up on a bunch of new staff at the police station who are working on the keeping the drugs off the streets I think that’s great!!! But the egos these new officers have really need to go into check when they are dealing with upstanding citizens we are not all criminals I think they missed that part of the training and how to know the difference. Theft has only dropped because most criminals are high on drugs and cant function well enough without causing attention and are more noticeably suspicious; also security guards are a lot more common than ever as well. The truth is we are learning from past experiences... all we can do is to try not allowing ourselves to play the victim roll, or become a hater. Nothing has really changed ...only the way we see it!!!

[nate borges]

Actually im not a steel worker. I do buisness with the crooks.

I feel safe during the day. At night in some areas basically below the mountain - I just avaoid.

[LetsGetSerious]

The poll indicates that most people still don't feel safer. This poll is brought to you by The Spec - a paper that I believe gives too much ink to crime. Coincidence? I think not.

Perhaps get rid of that crime blotter (what other newspaper has this as the focus of their web presence???) and people will start to feel safer.

The newspaper industry is in tough times, we know, but I would like you to encourage you to focus less on crime reporting!

[Gene Simmons]

@Dr. Shart. Sorry, friend, I don't get the Sun...can't make the comparison. But thanks for sharing that analogy.

[Dr. Shart]

LOL @ Gene Simmons. CP24 is as good of a news source as the Toronto Sun.

I have never felt unsafe in Hamilton day or night. I often go to the slummy areas with my Canon Digital SLR camera to record the urban decay.

[St]

People that cause fights,or have a somewhat misunderstood higher attitude of themselves that degrades and demeans other innocent people for no cause but their own is rampant,and needs to be addressed and controlled by police and governmental agencies.

[Rita Keays]

I agree with Allan Taylor
People have stopped calliing
the Police where there is
a crime committed. The general consenses amongst
the youth in Hamilton is that aside from Police Harrassment and writting traffic tickets the Hamilton Police Services would be better off if they
started a Tim Horton's franchise.

[Tad Nugent]

"I get violated everyday by US Steel."

another overpaid steelworker that thinks he is being abused lol

[Mark]

I think the main problem why people don't seem to feel safe, isn't actual crime. It's encountering unkempt people who at time seem either under the influence of drugs or suffering from some form of mental disability when they are in the lower city. That and encountering pan handlers and graffiti doesn't help things either.

[sueT]

It doesnt matter WHERE you live..there is crime! I think alot of people dont even bother reporting b/c the police do nothing or they are too busy dealing with something else more "important". My son was mugged by 3 punks at 1;pm on a busy street. They were never caught, nor did the police attempt to canvas the area. so NO i dont think the crime rate is down.

[Gene Simmons]

I agree, DZ. Every day on CP24, it seems they are reporting another shooting death, another stabbing death, a bouncer attacked and almost killed. And has anyone noticed the age bracket of both the perps and the victims...on average seems to be around 18 to 26. There's something very wrong with that generation...

[Paul Lucas]

I feel unsafe in downtown Hamilton during the day. The increased police patrols do nothing to rid sidewalks and the park of unemployed 30 year old guys who are looking to start a confrontation. I quite often will be walking to get lunch and a guy will go out of his way to stand in the middle of where people are walking and stare them down occasionally insulting someone. It's quite intimidating and I've gotten into a fight because of it once now. Someone claimed I pushed him when I actually went out of my way to avoid contact with this person. I now eat my lunch at the office and hope my boss will pursue plans to move our business to Trafalgar Road. A number of my co-workers have had their vehicles broken into as well. Did Tourism Hamilton provide these crime statistics or something?

[Singh]

I deal with lot of people on daily basis, what i found is that lot of people just don't bother reporting smaller crimes anymore because they think police can't help them. So i think lot of the smaller crimes don't even get reported. I was speaking with a cab driver he said lot of cab drivers don't report getting robbed because they think its pointless.

[Tad Nugent]

"Dauvergne said the index is calculated by attaching a number to a particular crime based on how severely it is punished in court."

Ha, nobody is severely punished in our hug a thug court system.

I definitely do not believe the stats

[DZ]

Just a follow up to my last post...

Maybe the media coverage makes it feel that way...

I mean every horrible act is glorified with front page coverage nowadays right?

[DZ]

Maybe its just me but don't the crimes seem to be worse?

I mean there have always been horrible things happening but even with less crime (statistically speaking) it seems like the crimes that are happening are much worse than before.

Less street muggings and more home invasions... less stolen vehicles and more people being shot or beaten with hammers.

I love that police blotter on the homepage and I check it every week to see what's going on in my neighbourhood. Let's just say that I'm very happy that I moved!

[Robbie]

The police do very little to prevent crime. Their role is to investigate crime. They take credit for car theft dropping but give no credit to the auto makers and car owners who have introduced or purchased theft prevention devices.
If the statistics are true then a case could be made to reduce the policing budgets across Canada.

[Peter Swire, CMA]

The data is based on the crimes reported.

Unfortunately, it does not take into account crimes that are not reported like most of the abuse and sexual assault crimes. It does not report feeling uncomfortable around beggars, drug users and others in the inner core.

I know the police service is doing the best they can with the resources they have.

Turn this around another way - would you be willing to raise the sales tax 1% to hire more police and incarcerate more offenders?

Some would say we can't afford it. Some would say if we raise the taxes to do just this that we would be creating an American styled criminal justice system. So, do we do the typical Canadian thing of complaining or do something about it.

Do I feel safer? In a word - NO.

In the last five years, our family has been a victim of crime on more than one occasion - some reported and others not. It does not matter where you live that crime is evident.

Consider this for a moment. We as a society no longer care for our neighbours - we leave that to the State. If you get vicitimized, we turn our backs. What ever happened to community responsibility and civic pride?

If we want to feel safer, we need to provide our police services with the tools to protect us; the Courts with the staff to prosecute and jail and we, as citizens, regain our moral centre.

[Gene Simmons]

"Dauvergne said the index is calculated by attaching a number to a particular crime based on how severely it is punished in court.

So then the stats aren't based on actual reported crimes, but are based on a numbering system?

[Markalanwhittle]

As soon as the Hamilton Police arrest a criminal they are quickly released on bail so they can continue to break the law and their bail conditions.

The repeat offender rate runs about 75%.

Hamilton needs some restorative justive thrown in the mix, as justice needs to be seen to be done for the public to buy in.

[nate borges]

I dont beleive the stats.
I get violated everyday by US Steel.

[Allan Taylor]

When police stop attending crime scenes people stop reporting. Thus the decrease in non-violent crime. The stats are basically meaningless as most crime goes unreported