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(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

Newly released Statistics Canada data shows Kamloops had a higher murder rate than Kelowna in 2023, but homicide rates were down across the country. 

StatsCan released data on homicide trends Wednesday, which show murder rate per 100,000 people are down across the country.

The national murder rate dropped by 14 per cent from 2022 to 2023, from 882 murders to 778. The provincial murder rate dropped 23 per cent, from 155 murders to 123, according to a press release from Statistics Canada issued Dec.11. 

Kelowna’s murder rate fell by nearly 40 per cent, from 3.36 to 2.04, Kamloops’ rate went up by 30 per cent from 2.51 to 3.28.

In Kelowna, there were eight murders in 2022 and five murders in 2023. In Kamloops there were three murders in 2022 and four in 2023.

Compared to other cities in B.C., Kelowna and Kamloops fell in the middle of the pack. Chilliwack had the highest murder rate at 4.77 and Victoria had the lowest at 0.46.

Statistics Canada found that nearly a third of people who were charged with homicide in the past five years were in custody or under supervision at the time of the crime including bail, remand, probation and those sentenced to custody. 

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“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,” Statistics Canada said in the press release. “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.”

The data also shows that racialized people, particularly Indigenous people, are overrepresented as homicide victims.

The national murder rate was 1.94 per 100,000 people, but there were 9.31 Indigenous murder victims per 100,000 Indigenous people.

“Racialized individuals in Canada are disproportionately involved in the criminal justice system. They may face challenges at various stages, both as victims and as accused. These challenges can include discriminatory treatment and systemic barriers, which can exacerbate existing inequalities,” Statistics Canada said.

The data found that roughly 25 per cent of murders are gang related, but there were 31 fewer gang related homicides in 2023 compared to 2022.

Click here to see the full set of statistics.

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