Kamloops' homicide rate increased by 30% in 2023

New data from Statistics Canada shows murder rates have dropped nationally and provincially but increased slightly in Kamloops.

Nationally, Canada’s murder rate decreased by 14% from 882 two years ago to 778 last year.

Statistics Canada says that is a drop from 2.27 to 1.94 homicides per 100,000 people.

Eight provinces saw drops in their homicide rate with the largest declines being seen in New Brunswick (-42%), Nova Scotia (-29%) and BC (-23%).

According to the data, there were 123 murders in BC last year, which is down from 155 victims the year before.

In Kamloops, the rate increased by 30% from 2.51 to 3.28, the data shows.

There were three murders in 2022 and four last year.

Only one other Census Metropolitan Area (CMAs) in BC saw an increase and that was Chilliwack where the rate increased by 94% with six murders in 2023, which is up from three in the year prior.

As for other CMAs in BC, Vancouver’s rate dropped by 36%, Victoria’s by 60%, Kelowna’s by nearly 40%, Abbotsford-Mission by 60% and Nanaimo’s by 26%.

As for Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas, Thunder Bay recorded the highest rate in 2023, despite a 54% decrease compared to the previous year, with a homicide rate standing at 5.39 per 100,000 population, followed by Winnipeg (5.04) and Chilliwack (4.77).

“Gang-related homicides and intimate partner homicides all experienced declines, contributing to the overall reduction in the national homicide rate,” said the Statistics Canada release.

“Significant decreases in homicide rates in Canada's three largest census metropolitan areas (CMAs)—Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver—also contributed to the overall reduction. This marks the first time since 2019 that the rate was below two homicides per 100,000 population.”

Nationally, nearly four in 10 homicides were committed with a firearm. The data also says handguns were the most common firearm used in these crimes, accounting for 56% of firearm-related homicides in 2023.

Statistics Canada says that despite a decrease in gang-related homicides in 2023 compared with 2022, they still accounted for approximately one-quarter of all homicides in 2023.

Another interesting group of data shows that nearly one-third of people charged with murder in the past five years were in custody or under community supervision at the time.

“Lawmakers, prosecutors and courts across the country recently requested a bail reform to enhance public safety and maintain public confidence in the criminal justice system,” the news release said.

“The most recent reforms, which came into effect on January 4, 2024, make it more difficult for individuals accused of serious violent offences involving weapons, specific firearm offences and intimate partner violence to be granted bail.”

To read the full news release and view the data, click here.