Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador Rapport sur la criminalité 2023
In 2023, Newfoundland and Labrador experienced a notable evolution in its criminal landscape. Police-reported crime across the province rose sharply, with the Crime Severity Index climbing sharply compared to the previous year. Violent offences, which account for the most severe incidents tracked by Statistics Canada’s Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, saw an uptick, while property crime — including break and enter, motor vehicle theft, and fraud — followed a similar trajectory. Newfoundland and Labrador ranked above the Canadian average for overall crime severity. This report examines every major offence category, clearance rates, and multi-year trends to provide residents, researchers, and policymakers with the most complete picture of crime in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Sommaire
Indice de gravité de la criminalité
87.7
↑ +6.8% Variation annuelle
#5 of 13
Taux de criminalité total
7928.6
pour 100 00024.9% above national average
Taux de crimes violents
1895.1
pour 100 000↑ +3.7% Variation annuelle
Taux de résolution
27.7%
Analyse de l'Indice de gravité de la criminalité
The Crime Severity Index, developed by the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, goes beyond simple crime counts by weighting each offence according to the severity of sentences handed down by criminal courts. Unlike the traditional crime rate, which treats every incident equally, the CSI gives proportionally more weight to serious offences like homicide and sexual assault, providing a more accurate reflection of how crime impacts Newfoundland and Labrador’s communities.
IGC global
87.7
↑ +6.8%IGC avec violence
99.8
↑ +3.7%IGC sans violence
83.7
↑ +8.4%IGC national : 81.2 · 8.1% above national average
Tendance de l'IGC sur 5 ans
| Year | CSI | Violent | Non-violent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 71.3 | 79.2 | 68.4 |
| 2020 | 68.8 | 80.9 | 64.3 |
| 2021 | 76.9 | 96.2 | 69.8 |
| 2022 | 82.1 | 96.2 | 77.2 |
| 2023 | 87.7 | 99.8 | 83.7 |
Répartition des crimes violents
Violent crime in Newfoundland and Labrador encompasses offences against the person — from common assault to homicide — as reported to police services under the Criminal Code of Canada. In 2023, the violent crime rate stood at 1895.1 per one hundred thousand residents, above the national benchmark of 1441.8. Newfoundland and Labrador’s homicide rate of 1.5 per one hundred thousand is moderate by national standards, while assault-related charges continue to represent the largest share of violent incidents.
| Infraction | Taux pour 100 000 |
|---|---|
| Homicide | 1.5 |
| Assault Level 1 | 717.9 |
| Assault Level 2 | 197.1 |
| Assault Level 3 | 11.9 |
| Sexual Assault | 98.2 |
| Robbery | 34.7 |
| Criminal Harassment | 103.2 |
| Uttering Threats | 454.6 |
Répartition des crimes contre les biens
Property crime — including break and enter, motor vehicle theft, shoplifting, and fraud — represents the most frequently reported category of criminal activity in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2023, property offences occurred at a rate of 3960.2 per one hundred thousand, exceeding Canada’s overall property crime rate of 3409.6. Motor vehicle theft and fraud have drawn particular attention from law enforcement across Newfoundland and Labrador in recent years.
| Infraction | Taux pour 100 000 |
|---|---|
| Break & Enter | 359.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 120.4 |
| Theft Over $5K | 45.5 |
| Theft Under $5K | 1044.0 |
| Fraud | 390.2 |
| Mischief | 1918.9 |
| Arson | 23.9 |
| Shoplifting | 418.1 |
Autres infractions au Code criminel
Beyond violent and property offences, Newfoundland and Labrador tracks drug violations, impaired driving, and weapons-related crimes under the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. These offences, while often underreported, provide critical insight into public safety trends and policing priorities across the province.
| Infraction | Taux pour 100 000 |
|---|---|
| Drug Violations | 184.1 |
| Impaired Driving | 363.1 |
| Weapons Offences | 49.0 |
Taux de résolution
Clearance rates measure how effectively police services resolve reported incidents. A case is “cleared by charge” when police lay or recommend criminal charges, and “cleared otherwise” when the case is resolved through alternative means — such as diversion programs, departmental discretion, the death of the accused, or diplomatic immunity. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the overall clearance rate provides insight into the capacity and effectiveness of provincial policing.
Total des affaires classées
11,343
26.5%
Classées par mise en accusation
8,390
74.0%
Classées autrement
2,953
26.0%
Analyse des tendances sur 5 ans
Understanding crime trends over multiple years is essential for distinguishing short-term fluctuations from lasting shifts. The table below tracks Newfoundland and Labrador’s Crime Severity Index, total crime rate, violent crime rate, and property crime rate from 2019 through 2023, offering policymakers, researchers, and residents a multi-year perspective on public safety in the province.
| Year | CSI | Total Rate | Violent Rate | Property Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 71.3 | 6633.8 | 1543.7 | 3133.6 |
| 2020 | 68.8 | 6697.9 | 1659.2 | 3115.3 |
| 2021 | 76.9 | 7224.1 | 1805.3 | 3321.1 |
| 2022 | 82.1 | 7449.4 | 1795.8 | 3672.6 |
| 2023 | 87.7 | 7928.6 | 1895.1 | 3960.2 |
🇨🇦 Comparaison : Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador et le Canada
Comparing Newfoundland and Labrador’s crime metrics to the national average provides essential context for understanding whether the province’s public safety challenges are local or reflect broader Canadian trends. Newfoundland and Labrador’s overall Crime Severity Index of 87.7 is above the Canadian average of 81.2, suggesting that the province experiences more severe crime relative to the rest of the country.
Crime Severity Index
Newfoundland and Labrador
87.7
Canada
81.2
Total Crime Rate
Newfoundland and Labrador
7928.6
Canada
6345.8
pour 100 000
▲ 24.9% above national averageViolent Crime Rate
Newfoundland and Labrador
1895.1
Canada
1441.8
pour 100 000
▲ 31.4% above national averageMéthodologie
Toutes les données de ce rapport proviennent du Programme de déclaration uniforme de la criminalité (DUC)de Statistique Canada, qui recueille les statistiques sur la criminalité déclarée par tous les services de police du Canada.
L' Indice de gravité de la criminalité (IGC) mesure la gravité globale de la criminalité en attribuant à chaque infraction un poids fondé sur les peines imposées par les tribunaux. Un IGC plus élevé indique une criminalité plus grave par rapport à l'année de référence (2006 = 100).
Les taux de criminalité sont exprimés pour 100 000 habitants afin de permettre une comparaison équitable entre des territoires de tailles différentes. Les estimations de population proviennent des programmes de recensement et d'estimations intercensitaires de Statistique Canada.
Taux de résolution correspondent au pourcentage d'affaires classées par la police, soit par une mise en accusation (« classées par mise en accusation »), soit autrement, par exemple par pouvoir discrétionnaire, programme de déjudiciarisation ou décès de l'accusé (« classées autrement »). La couverture et l'exhaustivité des données peuvent varier légèrement selon le territoire.
Questions fréquentes
What is Newfoundland and Labrador's crime rate in 2023?
In 2023, Newfoundland and Labrador recorded a total crime rate of approximately 7928.6 incidents per one hundred thousand population, based on police-reported data compiled through Statistics Canada’s Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. This figure encompasses all Criminal Code violations — including violent crime, property crime, and other federal statute offences — that were reported to and substantiated by police services across the province. Newfoundland and Labrador’s crime rate places it above the national average, indicating a higher volume of police-reported incidents relative to other Canadian jurisdictions. However, it is important to note that crime rates capture only offences reported to police; unreported crime and victimization survey data may paint a broader picture. For a more nuanced understanding of crime severity rather than just volume, the Crime Severity Index provides additional context.
Is Newfoundland and Labrador safer than the national average?
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Crime Severity Index of 87.7 is above the national average of 81.2, indicating that the province experiences higher-than-average crime severity when offences are weighted by the seriousness of court-imposed sentences. Newfoundland and Labrador ranks #5 out of 13 jurisdictions on the Crime Severity Index. This does not necessarily mean every community within the province is less safe; crime severity can vary dramatically between metropolitan areas and smaller municipalities. Factors such as population density, economic conditions, and policing capacity all influence regional crime patterns. For neighbourhood-level assessments, residents and researchers should supplement this data with reports from local police services.
What are the most common crimes in Newfoundland and Labrador?
The three most frequently reported offences by rate per one hundred thousand population in Newfoundland and Labrador are Mischief, Theft Under $5K, Assault Level 1, based on police-reported incidents for 2023. These offence categories consistently rank among the highest-volume crimes across most Canadian provinces and territories, reflecting patterns that are largely driven by interpersonal disputes and opportunistic property offences. Assault Level 1 — the least severe category of physical assault under the Criminal Code — typically dominates the violent crime category, while property offences such as theft and mischief account for the bulk of reported incidents overall. The rates cited here are derived from Statistics Canada’s Uniform Crime Reporting Survey and represent only those incidents reported to and substantiated by police. Actual victimization rates, including unreported incidents, are likely higher across all categories.
How does Newfoundland and Labrador's Crime Severity Index compare?
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Crime Severity Index stands at 87.7, ranking #5 out of 13 provinces and territories, while the national CSI is 81.2. The Crime Severity Index was developed by Statistics Canada to address a key limitation of traditional crime rates: that a single count of theft carries the same statistical weight as a homicide. By weighting each offence based on average sentences handed down by criminal courts, the CSI provides a severity-adjusted view of the criminal landscape. A CSI above 100 indicates that a jurisdiction’s crime severity exceeds the 2006 national baseline, while a value below 100 suggests an improvement. Newfoundland and Labrador’s CSI should be interpreted alongside the violent and non-violent sub-indices, which reveal whether changes in overall severity are driven by serious person offences or by high-volume property and regulatory crimes.
Has crime gone up or down in Newfoundland and Labrador?
The Crime Severity Index in Newfoundland and Labrador increased by 6.8 per cent compared to the previous year, indicating a rise in the overall severity of police-reported crime. This year-over-year increase may reflect a genuine uptick in more serious offences, changes in police reporting practices, or shifts in population that affect per-capita calculations. It is important to distinguish between crime volume and crime severity: even if the total number of incidents remains stable, an increase in high-severity offences such as homicide, sexual assault, or robbery can push the CSI upward. Researchers and policymakers should examine the violent and non-violent CSI sub-indices separately to identify which offence categories are driving the change. Long-term trend analysis over five or more years provides a more reliable picture than single-year fluctuations.