COVID-19 Crisis Changing Criminal Cases

"Our radios are usually very busy, dispatchers barking out calls one after another."

"Now, we sometimes hear an officer asking for a radio check because they think their radio isn't working."

Toronto Police Officer

"The statistics we are seeing make sense with the ways we are living right now."

"We know that with so many things closed and people being urged to stay home, we have far fewer vehicles on our roads, leading to a reduction in traffic offences."

"Sadly, more time at home with families and significant others results in an increase in calls for domestic related incidents."

Constable Laura Nicolle, York Regional Police

"This could be attributed to social distancing and self-isolation since most of these crimes are against people [assaults, robbery], but even crimes against property [auto theft, break-and-enters] have dropped."

Meaghan Gray, Toronto Police

"Of concern is that victims of domestic abuse are potentially not attending hospitals or clinics for their injuries, and therefore a significant portion of our cases which would normally come from health-care professionals, are going unreported."

Inspector Jim Elves, Ottawa Police Force

Toronto Police continue to respond to call on March 29. Stan Behal/Postmedia

Neighbourhood crime may never be quite the same again. But that, of course, depends on the final trajectory of the novel coronavirus situation and how it is changing society, whether temporarily or permanently. Because of the general lockdown in society, and populations being advised to remain at home, with businesses closing, people working from home, or unemployed there are few people now out and about, changing how society works altogether, for the time being at the very least.

What this has translated into is fewer traffic violations, fewer drunk driving episodes, fewer frauds. On the other hand, there has been a notable increase in domestic violence, in commercial break-ins and in stunt driving. With sweeping emergency declarations across Canada adding up to movement limitations, impacting on work, recreation and business, self-isolation has swiftly altered public (and private) lifestyles to an extent hitherto unimaginable.

Crime, responding to public movement -- where people now are permitted to go, how the greater public spends its working time cloistered at home, the manner in which people are able to get out (minimally) in public and who has been detailed to watch over the situation -- has altered its focus in lock-step with self-isolation. Police forces around the country have noted the changes.

A statistical analysis of crime under COVID-19 was undertaken by York Regional Police just north of Toronto where overall crime reported decreased by approximately 13 percent in the month of March in comparison with the same month a year earlier. The largest drop in reports were identified as routine traffic violations, down by 32 percent, and impaired driving, by 29 percent. All to the good, one might infer.

York Regional Police say they continue to adapt to changing patterns of crime in the region as a result of people staying indoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including increases in domestic incidents. (Katherine Holland/CBC)

Bars and restaurants are closed to table service, and so fewer opportunities abound where drinking and driving are concerned. There has been a 15 percent drop in fraud, and 13 percent in weapons offences. On the other hand, some crimes have risen sharply. With less congested roads comes stunt driving and speeds of 50 km/h over the limit, revving up 60 percent. 

Then there is that irresistible temptation represented by so many businesses being shuttered, many of which become targets for the criminal mind for who, self-isolation is fairly meaningless, other than with fewer people around and about there are fewer witnesses to crime and more opportunities to break into premises at any time. A rise of 45 percent has been seen in March of commercial break-ins. Vehicle theft has increased by 44 percent.

It is the 22 percent leap of domestic complaints that give rise to truly disturbing situations in the background and underbelly of society. These complaints represent minor calls to police reporting verbal arguments in a  home, all the way up to significant domestic physical assault. All of these issues paint a broad picture of how the novel coronavirus has impacted on Canada's overall crime situation.

Weekly statistics since mid-March in Toronto indicate a decline in all major crime categories, with the exception of homicide, remaining stable. Police in Edmonton have observed almost a 52 percent increase in mental health calls compared to the year before, for March. Serious domestic violence has risen significantly as well in Alberta with 62 percent more calls for domestic violence.

Three areas of COVID crime concerns have been identified in Ottawa; commercial break-ins, domestic abuse and speed driving. Police in Ottawa seized 15 vehicles for stunt driving last week alone, including a motorcycle driver pulling wheelies. Vancouver police have seen ten percent fewer calls on a daily basis since mid-March, but a jump in commercial break-ins. "It appears thieves are attempting to take advantage of commercial spaces that are closed due to social distancing measures", observed Chief Adam Palmer.

Overall property crime in the city has decreased by 12 percent, despite a surge in break-ins, while Calgary too has seen an increase in break-ins. "Break and enters to commercial areas is one area where we've seen an increase and have adapted our patrols accordingly", report Calgary police. And as matters continue to constrain life with the advance of COVID cases and additional restrictions, fears have arisen of impacted front line policing with the advent of officers being incapacitated by COVID-19.

Police officers patrol downtown Calgary on April 2, 2020 as part of their regular patrol. Police have been on the watch for criminals breaking into shops that are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Jim Wells/Postmedia