Crime rate in Canada at lowest level since 1972, Statistics Canada says

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says the rate of crimes reported to police in Canada reached its lowest level in 40 years in 2011.

The agency says police services reported nearly 2 million incidents last year, about 110,000 fewer than in 2010.

The severity of crime index, a tool used to measure the extent of serious crime in Canada, also dropped by six per cent.

StatsCan says both the crime rate and the severity index declined or remained stable in regions throughout the country.

Decreases were reported in several major categories, including attempted murder, major assaults, sexual assaults, robberies, break-ins and motor vehicle thefts.

But there was an increase in 2011 in homicide, sexual offences against children, impaired driving and most drug offences.

StatsCan says that since it peaked in 1991, the crime rate has generally been decreasing and, in 2011, was at its lowest point since 1972.