Significant drop in certain criminal activity reported to 17 police services across Canada: Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada says that during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant drop in certain criminal activity reported to 17 police services across Canada.

The services say selected criminal incidents were down by 17 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier, with the lone exception being uttering threats by a family member, which rose by four per cent.

The number of service calls also rose by eight per cent, particularly for wellness checks, mental health calls and calls to attend domestic disturbances.

The statistics agency says that when the physical distancing measures introduced to control the pandemic started easing in May, the number of crimes and calls for service began to rise.