27% of Canadians aged 15 and older say they have been a victim of a criminal incident

First results from the 2009 General Social Survey (GSS) on victimization show that 27% of Canadians aged 15 and older said they had been a victim of a criminal incident in the 12 months before the survey. This proportion was unchanged from 2004, the last time the victimization survey was conducted.

Rates of victimization resulting from violent crimes, namely sexual assault, physical assault and robbery, remained stable between 2004 and 2009.

Overall, rates of victimization resulting from household crimes also remained stable between 2004 and 2009. However, thefts of motor vehicles or parts declined 23% while break-ins increased by 21%.

The majority of self-reported victimizations were non-violent in nature. About 36% consisted of household incidents (namely, break-ins, thefts of motor vehicles or parts, vandalism or theft of household property), while 34% consisted of theft of personal property. Violent incidents accounted for 30% of self-reported incidents.

Overall, just under one-third (31%) of all incidents were reported to the police, down from 34% in 2004. In the case of violent crime, 29% of incidents were reported to police, while about 36% of household incidents were brought to their attention.

Rates of violent victimization remain steady

In 2009, nearly 1.6 million Canadians, or 6% of the population aged 15 and over in the 10 provinces, reported having been the victim of a violent crime, that is, a sexual assault, a robbery or a physical assault, in the 12 months before the survey. This proportion was essentially unchanged from 2004.