One-third of residents in Canada’s territories report being crime victims: StatsCan

A new Statistics Canada report shows that about one-third of people living in Canada’s three territories reported being the victim of a crime in 2009.

And nearly half (46 per cent) of those self-reported incidents in the territories were violent, with assault being the most common crime reported, according to the newly-released report, Criminal Victimization in the Territories, 2009.

In contrast, the great majority — 70 per cent — of self-reported incidents in Canada’s provinces were non-violent.

But the violence revealed in the report shows that it’s for many northern residents, and it’s violence close to home.

Roughly one in every five violent incidents reported in the territories was committed by a current or former spouse or partner.

And rates of spousal violence were found to be highest for young adults aged 15 to 34, aboriginal people, and those living in a low income household.

Even for non-spousal violent incidents in the territories, most victims (66 per cent) said they knew the perpetrator, while 78 per cent said the incident may have been related to the offender’s alcohol or drug use.

And one-third of violent incidents resulted in a physical injury, the report noted.

The remainder of the criminal incidents reported in the study were related to crimes against the household (35 per cent) or theft of personal property (19 per cent.)

In 2009, about 13,400 crimes against households were reported across the territories.

Higher rates of household victimization were found in the same neighbourhoods where victims also reported problems with noisy neighbours, loud parties, loitering, and drug dealing.

But the study also found that the vast majority of residents in Canada’s three territories reported being satisfied with their personal safety.

One in nine residents believed that police were doing an average or good job ensuring the safety of the community.

But the study also noted that aboriginal people were somewhat more likely than non-aboriginal people to report being dissatisfied with their police service.

The report’s data was collected through the General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization, a sample survey that is designed to be representative of the population aged 15 years and up.