Ottawa police report 13.8 per cent drop in violent crimes in 2020
The Ottawa Police Service says a decrease in crimes reported in Ottawa in 2020 can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The 2020 Ottawa Police Service Annual Report shows a 21.2 per cent decrease in reported crimes and a 13.8 per cent drop in violent crimes in Ottawa last year. There were fewer homicides, robberies, sexual assaults, assaults and charges for thefts under $5,000 in the capital in 2020.
A total of 33,613 Criminal Code of Canada offences were reported in the city of Ottawa in 2020, down from 42,675 reported crimes in 2019. There were 6,673 violent crimes reported to Ottawa Police in 2020, down from 7,739 in 2019.
"In 2020, there were declines in both the overall volume (13%) and severity (22%) of violent crime. Contributing to the decline in the violent CSI was a 40 per cent decline in the number of homicides to eight, with all cases solved," says the Ottawa Police Service Annual Report.
"Also contributing to the decline were a reduction in robberies (32%), sexual violations (16%), indecent and harassing communications (15%), and assaults (13%). In many instances, these declines can be attributed to a reduction in the number of face-to-face interactions occurring due to public health measures."
There were eight homicides in Ottawa in 2020, down from 14 in 2019 and 16 in 2018.
"Our Homicide Unit had its own success stories in 2020, with all eight homicide investigations resulting in the arrests and murder charges issued for persons responsible, for an unprecedented 100 per cent clearance rate," said the report. "Only one case remains open as police search for a second party, after arresting and charging one of the two involved in a murder."
Ottawa police say investigators cleared 44 per cent of all violent crimes in 2020, an increase from 42 per cent in 2019.
There was also a 22.9 per cent decrease in non-violent crime reported in Ottawa last year, with 26,940 incidents reported.
Statistics show there was a 45 per cent decrease in theft under $5000 charges, a 23 per cent decline in non-violent property-related offences, and what police call a "marked decline" in shoplifting and thefts from vehicles.
"This can be partially attributed to the closure of many businesses, facilities providing recreational programs, public libraries, schools, child care centres, bars and restaurants and performance venues to control community transmission of COVID-19," says the report. "These closures inadvertently reduced opportunity and mobility."
Police did report an increase in fraud and theft over $5000 charges in 2020.
Ottawa police received 314,294 calls for service in 2020, down from 345,760 calls in 2019.
The Ottawa Police Service Annual Report will be presented to the Ottawa Police Services Board on Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'Love has no boundaries': Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Ontario family releases statement on infant son, grandparents killed in wrong-way Highway 401 crash
An Ontario family says they are 'reeling' in 'profound grief' after losing their three-month-old son and parents visiting from India in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last Monday.