Canada crime rate drops 6% to lowest level since 1972

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18973750

Excluding traffic offences, 1,984,916 incidents were reported last year, marking the eighth consecutive annual national decline in crime.

Less property crime, fewer break-ins and car thefts drove the crime rate down, but there were more murders.

Crime peaked in 1991 in Canada but has seen a downward trend since then.

The figures, compiled by the Canadian Centre of Justice Statistics and released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday, showed that the 7% increase in homicides to 598 was a result of more killings in Alberta and Quebec.

But the report said that "despite annual fluctuations, the homicide rate has generally been declining since peaking in the mid-1970s".