London, Ontario is a city with a population of about 558,298 people.
In 2021, it had the highest homicide rate among Ontario’s big cities and the seventh-highest in Canada.
The city also had a higher total crime rate than the national average.
This article will provide some data and reports on the crime situation in London, Canada, according to Statistics Canada and other sources.
Homicide rate
- London recorded 16 homicides in 2021, which translates to a homicide rate of 2.87 per 100,000 people.
- This was higher than the national homicide rate of 2.06 per 100,000 people, which was the highest level since 2005.
- Two of London’s homicides were classified as gang-related, meaning they involved a criminal organization or were committed for its benefit.
- The most common cause of death among homicide victims in London was stabbing, followed by shooting and beating.
Total crime rate
- London had a total crime rate of 6,558 incidents per 100,000 people in 2021, which was higher than the provincial rate of 4,044 and the national rate of 5,856.
- The total crime rate includes all violent and property crimes, as well as criminal code violations, traffic violations, federal statute violations and drug violations.
- The total crime rate in London decreased by 6.3% from 2020 to 2021, while the provincial rate decreased by 11% and the national rate decreased by 9.8%.
- The table below shows the breakdown of total crime incidents by type in London in 2021:
| Crime type | Incidents | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Violent | 7,211 | 1,285 |
| Property | 20,837 | 3,720 |
| Other | 207 | N/A |
Crime severity index
- The crime severity index (CSI) is a measure that tracks the severity level of police-reported crime by taking into account both the prevalence and the seriousness of the crimes committed.
- The CSI assigns weights to different types of crimes based on the average sentences imposed by courts. More severe crimes such as homicides and robberies have higher weights than less severe crimes such as thefts and frauds.
- The CSI is calculated by dividing the total weighted offences by the population and multiplying by 100. A higher CSI indicates a higher level of crime severity3.
- In 2021, London had a CSI of 86.8, which was higher than the provincial CSI of 54.9 and the national CSI of 79.53.
- The CSI in London decreased by 8.4% from 2020 to 2021, while the provincial CSI decreased by 10.9% and the national CSI decreased by 8.9%3.
- The table below shows the breakdown of CSI by type in London in 20213:
| Crime type | Weighted offences | CSI |
|---|---|---|
| Violent | 12,858 | 97.7 |
| Property | 13,942 | 79.4 |
| Other | N/A | N/A |
Conclusion
London, Canada is a city that faces some challenges with crime, especially with homicides and violent offences.
The city has higher rates of crime and crime severity than the provincial and national averages.
However, there are also some signs of improvement, as both the total crime rate and the CSI have decreased from 2020 to 2021.
More efforts are needed to prevent and reduce crime in London and to ensure public safety and well-being.
