Violent crime in Canada has increased by 30 percent in the last decade.

Violent crime in Canada has seen the largest increase of any other crime category in the past 10 years, with a 30 percent increase in the past 10 years.

Violent crimes are any crimes committed or threatened with violence against the body of another, such as assault.

According to analysis by The HubIn 2023, there were 1,427 such crimes per 100,000 people, compared to 2013, when the number was 1,095.

The most common violent crimes in 2023 were assault without weapons or resulting in injury, making threats, and assault with weapons or resulting in injury.

Just over half (55 percent) of Canadians want violent crime to be a top priority for government policymakers. And even more (78 percent) believe Canada’s justice system has been too lenient on those convicted of such crimes, according to a 2023 Leger survey.

The fact that repeat offenders are offered bail is a major concern of respondents (79 percent). In 2022, 29 percent of murders were committed by someone who was released on some form of release, such as house arrest or parole.

Canadians’ concerns about crime have led to an investigation into which specific crimes in the country are increasing, which are decreasing and which are remaining the same.

The increase in violent crimes was followed by property crimes and ‘other violations of the Criminal Code’.

Last year there were many more cases of property crime (including theft), but these figures were only 7 percent higher than in 2013.

By 2023, property crime rates were more than twice as high as violent crime rates. Violent crimes, meanwhile, were higher than all violations of driving, drug, other federal laws, and the Youth Criminal Justice Act combined.

Like property crimes, “other criminal offences” were also 7 percent higher than crimes in the same category in 2013. These include the use of weapons, administration of justice, disturbing public order, sexual exploitation and illegal gambling.

Violations of the Youth Criminal Justice Act by youths aged 12 to 18 suspected of a crime fell the most, by 89 percent compared to 2013.

The number of drink-driving offences fell by 19 percent compared to 2013. However, changes in legislation have likely affected data collection in this category.

Within the category of violent crimes, the figures for extortion, human trafficking and illegal distribution of intimate images increased the most compared to a decade earlier.

Extortion, defined in the Criminal Code as making threats, accusations, threats or violence, often to obtain money, increased the most, by 429 percent from 6 to 34 incidents per 100,000 people.

Although the number of human trafficking cases is considerably lower, the second largest relative increase is seen in violent crimes, namely 395 percent. In 2013 that was 0.22 incidents, in 2023 that was 1.09 incidents per 100,000 people.

The production and distribution of child pornography (within the category of “other offences under the Criminal Code”) saw the third highest recorded increase. In the seven years between 2016 (when this data was first collected) and 2023, it increased by a whopping 288 percent from 10 to 40 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants.

Canada’s 2019 National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking included a $75 million investment to address the crimes the country says most affect women. The strategy includes national awareness campaigns, a review of the immigration process and community-led technology development to track human trafficking on social media.

In February, the federal government introduced the Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) to force online platforms to remove child pornography and other harmful content within 24 hours of posting. However, the bill has been criticized over its other components, which some say will restrict freedom of expression.

In 2023, the property crime of theft under $5,000 had the highest rate. Maliciousness followed (destruction and damage to property) and then fraud, which is defined as the illegal acquisition of property, money, valuables, or services by deception.