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To all who might have special knowledge of this. I went to look up police stats on crime in the West End/downtown for the recent story on the debate over the overdose-prevention site. I expected to see some kind of sign of an upward blip, given all the stories I was hearing.
But it looks as though crime stats have dropped in all categories, some quite dramatically. Central Business District assaults, Aug 2019: 183; Aug 2020: 160. B & E: 71, 2019; 63, 2020; robbery 31, 2019; 16 2020.
Comparing July 2019 and July 2020 for CBD: Assaults, 170 in 2019; 144 in 2020. Robbery, 22 and 15. B & E, 90 and 55. In both months, thefts from cars down dramatically (535 vs 170 for the two Julys; 528 vs 216 for the two Augusts). But I get that& #39;s because no downtown parking.
In the West End, August 2020 vs August 2019: Assaults, 38 vs 33; robberies 7 vs 2; b/es, 46 vs 25. In July 2020 vs July 2019: Assaults, 32 vs 36; robberies, 6 vs 2; theft from auto 134 vs 70.
Even mischief charges are down everywhere.
So I& #39;m wondering what the explanation is for all the stories I heard yesterday about increased crime, assaults, attempted break-ins in particular areas of Yaletown, the Downtown South, West End. Is it that crimes are shifting around inside large areas? Or what?
Anyway, it& #39;s all here on the VPD website, month by month, if anyone wants to go look for themselves.
