Police-reported hate crimes, violent crimes in Winnipeg surged in 2023, annual report says
Winnipeg recorded a jump in police-reported violent crimes in 2023, surpassing the five-year average by more than 3,600 offences, new data shows.
Hate crimes reached a recent historic high last year, though the actual number of hate-related incidents may be higher than what’s reported to police, says the Winnipeg Police Service’s annual statistical report, released Tuesday.
The data says there were 46 reported hate crimes, with 11 incidences of hate propaganda and 10 incidents each of assault and mischief.
There were a total of 28 hate crimes in 2022, and the five-year average is 32.
![A graphic shows the number of hate crimes in various categories](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7238436.1718728542!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/hate-crimes-breakdown.jpg)
The 15,074 violent crimes last year were an increase of 31.4 per cent over the five-year average (11,469) and a 12.1 per cent bump over 2022 (13,451).
They were driven primarily by year-over-year increases in robberies (+21.9 per cent) and assaults (+17.3), the report says.
Following a record high in 2022, the use of bear spray in violent crimes decreased sharply in 2023 (-24.5 per cent), while crimes involving knives (+21.6 per cent), firearms (+5.6), and other weapons (+16.6) increased compared to 2022.
Similar to previous years, the majority of weapons crimes took place downtown and in Point Douglas.
More than 2,000 violent crimes (13.8 per cent) could not be solved because the victim refused to participate in the investigation, the report says.
The report also shows slight increases in traffic offences and drug offences, but overall, crime in Winnipeg actually dipped in 2023 compared to the previous year, by 2.2 per cent. However, it remained above the five-year average.
That five-year average is somewhat skewed, influenced by low numbers in many categories during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the report says.
![A chart shows the types of crimes that occurred in Winnipeg in 2023.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7238335.1718724739!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/winnipeg-crimes.jpg)
The decrease in total crimes in 2023 versus 2022 was driven primarily by a reduction in property crimes (-6.7 per cent).
The report includes a breakdown of the various categories, showing comparative data dating back to 2018.
When it comes to property crimes, nearly every category recorded year-over-year decreases, with the notable exceptions being shoplifting (+45.4 per cent) and fraud (+15.3). Shoplifting has doubled since 2021 but remains below 2019 and 2020 levels.
Thefts from motor vehicles also experienced a sharp year-over-year decrease driven by a significant reduction in catalytic converter thefts.
After declining steadily for a number of years, youth crimes trended upward for the second consecutive year. That category increased 23.1 per cent over 2022 and 14.3 per cent over the five-year average.
Youth crimes involving a weapon have doubled since 2021, with youth accounting for one in every five people charged with a weapons crime.
Showing just how young some offenders are getting, 77 youth were younger than 12 at the time of the offence and could not be charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The online report includes interactive maps where you can see statistical data on crimes and police activity in the city by community and neighbourhood. You can also filter crime and safety events by various categories.