What's behind Canada's improving crime stats?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Statistics Canada figures released Thursday suggest the crime rate in Canada fell again last year, dropping three per cent between 2011 and 2012. But experts are warning Canadians not to read too much into the numbers.

Governments and police like to take credit when crime statistics improve, but more often than not, such numbers point to broad long-term trends rather than the effect of specific policies, says Anthony Doob, a professor of criminology at the University of Toronto.

The rates of most kinds of police-reported crime have been dropping steadily since about 1991, long before the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper began introducing its "tough-on-crime" polices, such as increased mandatory minimum sentences and restrictions on credit for time served.

The overall crime rate has dropped 26 per cent since 2002, and violent crime is down 17 per cent in that period.

The latest year-to-year drop is "more of the same," says Doob, and is perfectly in line with the decrease in crime that Canada and other countries have been experiencing in the past two decades.

"The one thing that's clear is this is a long-term trend and has nothing to do with any of the so-called crime policies of the government," Doob said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/07/25/crime-stats-follow.html

[Teddy B 17,252]

And they did it without more guns?? No way!

Yay Canada!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

And they did it without more guns?? No way!

Yay Canada!

Not just without guns, but government policies don't seem to have anything to do with it either.

IT IS MAGIC.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

And they did it without more guns?? No way!

Yay Canada!

They eliminated registration. It was doing nothing. So we really don't know.

It is good news, if they start allowing people to carry concealed their crime could be as low as Vermont's

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Not just without guns, but government policies don't seem to have anything to do with it either.

IT IS MAGIC.

It is quite possible there are more guns. Very likely actually. The elimination of the long gun registration makes that impossible to determine.

I say it is due to the increased ownership of firearms. The study shows nothing else really explains it.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Not just without guns, but government policies don't seem to have anything to do with it either.

IT IS MAGIC.

They eliminated registration. It was doing nothing. So we really don't know.

It is good news, if they start allowing people to carry concealed their crime could be as low as Vermont's

But, but they did it with having LESS guns Gary! No effin way, eh?

Edited August 5, 2013 by Teddy B

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Canada's gun laws must be working.

[Teddy B 17,252]

It is quite possible there are more guns. Very likely actually. The elimination of the long gun registration makes that impossible to determine.

I say it is due to the increased ownership of firearms. The study shows nothing else really explains it.

You would say it, but like always, you're merely blowing smoke.

[GandD 5,966]

They eliminated registration. It was doing nothing. So we really don't know.

It is good news, if they start allowing people to carry concealed their crime could be as low as Vermont's

Like for real, you don't see a problem with people having to carry around a firearm to bolster personal security in a civilized country? Or do you just think there is nothing to be done to ensure personal security sans the firearm?

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Canada's gun laws must be working.

or maybe everyone's too busy trying to stay warm to shoot anyone else.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

or maybe everyone's too busy trying to stay warm to shoot anyone else.

A vast majority of Canada's guns are up in the territories. They're just busy trying to survive.

[Teddy B 17,252]

A vast majority of Canada's guns are up in the territories. They're just busy trying to survive.

I've never felt safer than when I'm in Canada. The people are respectable, the streets are clean and I don't think twice about some twisted nut going off with a gun. It's a beautiful country. I bet people are flocking there.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I've never felt safer than when I'm in Canada. The people are respectable, the streets are clean and I don't think twice about some twisted nut going off with a gun. It's a beautiful country. I bet people are flocking there.

It's certainly not without its flaws, no country is, but it IS a great place to live.

[Karee 4,190]

I've never felt safer than when I'm in Canada. The people are respectable, the streets are clean and I don't think twice about some twisted nut going off with a gun. It's a beautiful country. I bet people are flocking there.

I really enjoyed my 2 years in Quebec. Even the cops were really nice when they threw me in the clink. The taxes are fricking outrageous though.

ETA: I remember the malls all closing at 6 pm except on Thursday nights. I asked them ####### is up with that. They said people want to be home with their families. That was really odd to me.

Edited August 5, 2013 by Karee

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I really enjoyed my 2 years in Quebec. Even the cops were really nice when they threw me in the clink. The taxes are fricking outrageous.

I think the cops in Canada are why I have a somewhat naive view of law enforcement in this country.

I've simply never encountered one that was a d*ck. I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt.