Sexual assault rate up in Vancouver

Most Vancouver crime rates are dropping, except for the number of sexual assaults, which have shot up in first six months of this year, according to police.

Chief Jim Chu announced on Monday morning that the number of sexual offences rose 21 per cent so far this year, from 250 incidents to 303, when compared to the first half of 2009.

In particular, aggravated sexual assaults showed the sharpest increase, jumping from just one reported incident in 2009 to 7 in 2010 — an increase of 600 per cent.

But Chu said a large number of the of sexual assaults are non-violent incidents linked to the Granville Street bar and the downtown nightclub scene.

"In the downtown core, with the rise of the entertainment district, and more bars, more young people coming down, more people drinking large amounts of alcohol, that is an environment where you're going to get more instances where people are reporting something got slipped into their drink, or for example, a groping that may have occurred as someone is leaving a bar," said Chu.

In almost all other categories crime rates against people were down. Homicides dropped from 13 to six — a decrease of 53 per cent, while attempted murders plunged from 12 to three, a decrease of 75 per cent. Robberies also dropped 12 per cent to 565 incidents.

Overall property crime also declined, dropping nearly 8 per cent, for a total of 17,416 incidents. Theft from vehicles led the decline at 22 per cent, followed by theft from motor vehicles, which fell 17 per cent, and break and entries at businesses, which fell 18 per cent.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson was at VPD headquarters on Monday morning to applaud the police work.

"Our city consistently ranks as one of the most livable in the world, and the safety that exists in our communities is one of the major reasons why," said Robertson.

"It's easy to take for granted but we need to remember that there have been many years in the past where crime increased. The VPD have shown the ability to change tactics and use new strategies to fight crime, and it is paying off," he said.