Reported crimes in Ottawa drop over 20 per cent in 2020

A downward trend in crime was observed in Ottawa in 2020 — although violent crimes in particular — like homicides, incidents of robbery, assault and reports of sexual violations — experienced a notable decline compared to the year before.

The Ottawa Police Services Board meeting on Monday will hear that there were about 34,000 reported Criminal Code of Canada offences in Ottawa that year, and reported a 21 per cent decrease in crime.

Violent crimes, in particular, dropped by 14 per cent, while non-violent crimes by 23 per cent (mostly due to fewer thefts $5,000 and under, possession of stolen goods and theft of motor vehicles).

In the report, police say demand for service declined by 10 per cent last year to nearly 333,000 requests for service, driven by public health measures aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Collisions, too, declined by 40 per cent to 11,400, while fatalities fell by 33 per cent to 16 on Ottawa's roadways.

“Rest assured, the OPS will not be taking our foot off the gas pedal, or our focus off our vision,” police say in the report. “In fact, we established the 2021 budget as a change-enabling budget based on an ongoing series of community consultations. All new OPS strategies, police and practices will be community informed and involved — with community co-production through consultation with community experts and evidence-based best practices. Together, we can make a difference.”

Despite the challenges presented by COVID last year, police say they were still able to progress in key areas like:

• adding three new neighbourhood resources teams in the ByWard Market/Lowertown, Bayshore and Centretown neighbourhoods;
• reducing shootings by 40 per cent, and homicides by 40 per cent with 100 per cent solvency rate;
• seizing a record number of crime guns (111 in 2020, and 42 to date in 2021);
• issuing over 40,000 Provincial Offence Notices, including 450 for stunt driving;
• administering naloxone 115 times, saving 103 lives;

OPS also made progress on the organizational side of operations that include:

• receiving a record number of police applications (2,700 up from 650 in 2019);
• increasing the hiring rates of women (to 18 per cent form 12 per cent), radicalized candidates (to 36 per cent from 13 per cent) and Indigenous candidates (to three per cent from one per cent);
• hiring 96 new police recruits (32 women and 31 self-identified racialized/Indigenous men)  with a wide range of lived experiences;
• creating the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan to build better communities;
• implementing the Respect, Values and Inclusion Directorate, which focuses on supporting professional, ethical and values;
• expanding the role of the Community Equity Council to have discussions with key community leaders about issues important to them;