2% rise in Waterloo Region crime rate not cause for concern says Tom Galloway

Crime rates rose in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo from 2015 to 2016, according to Statistics Canada, but an official with the region says the reported increases are not a major cause for concern.

"Itdoes fluctuate," Tom Galloway, chair of the Waterloo regional police services board, saidThursday.

"I'm not sure how important it is. Our rates seem to be in line with those of other cities in Ontario. From that perspective, I think we're doing okay."

Percentage increase not large

In a recent report, Statistics Canada said the crime rate, which measures the volume of crime as reported by police, roseby two per cent in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo from 2015 to 2016.

Over the same time period, the crime severity index, which measures the volume and severity of crime as reported by police,rose by one per cent in the three cities, which the federal statistical agency says comprises what it calls a census metropolitan area.

Galloway said the percentage increases are not large, and if the rates and indexes were tracked over the past five years, the latest increases do not appear to be part of any upward trend.

He said crime is a complex problem with root causes andWaterloo region has put much effort into preventing it.

Crime prevention efforts

Two organizations, the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council and Wellbeing Waterloo Region, are focused in part on crime prevention, he said.

The council, which supports community efforts that reduce and prevent crime, has been funded by the region since 1995. Wellbeing Waterloo Region, a relatively new organization, began in June 2016 and is a community-led organization with the goal of improving quality of life in the region.

"It's not only the police who have the responsibility to deal with crime. It's also the community," he said."Prevention is where we need to put our resources."

Area crime statistics

In Toronto for 2015 to 2016, the crime rate rose two per cent, while the crime severity index rose four per cent. In Guelph, the crime rate jumped 13 per cent while the crime severity index increased nine per cent. In Barrie, the crime rate dropped by one per cent, while the crime severity index rose five per cent.

In Ontario, the crime severity index rose by four per cent from 2015 to 2016. An increase in the number of frauds, homicides and robberies accounted for the percentage change provincially, Statistics Canada reported.