Glossary of Terms

Major Crime Indicator (MCI) and Shooting Glossary

Incident: An incident is the set of connected events which usually constitute an occurrence report.

Occurrence: A written document that reflects an occurrence, unusual problem, incident, deviation from standard practice, or situation that requires follow-up action.

Offence: A violation against the Criminal Code of Canada or other federal statute, provincial act, or municipal by-law. Offences are counted in the year they are reported to police rather than the year the offence occurred. Please note that this map shows the number of offences and some occurrences may have multiple offences.

Violent Crime: Involve the use or threatened use of violence against a person, including homicide, attempted murder, nonsexual assault, sexual assault, abduction and robbery. Robbery is considered a violent crime because, unlike other theft offences, it involves the use or threat of violence. These are counted by the number of victims.

Property Crime: Includes unlawful acts committed for the purpose of attaining or interfering with the use of property, but does not involve the use or threat of violence against an individual. Property crime includes actual and attempted motor vehicle theft, other theft, actual and attempted break and enters, possession of stolen property, mischief and fraud etc. These are counted by the number of occurrences.

Assault: The direct or indirect application of force to another person, or the attempt or threat to apply force to another person, without that person’s consent.

Auto Theft: The act of taking or another person's vehicle (not including attempts). Auto Theft figures represent the number of vehicles stolen. Break and Enter: The act of entering a place with the intent to commit an indictable offence therein.

Homicide/Murder:

• Occurrence: The homicide category includes the offences of First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, and Manslaughter. A homicide occurs when a person directly or indirectly, by any means, causes the death of another human being. Deaths caused by criminal negligence, suicide, or accidental or justifiable homicide (i.e self-defence) are not included. Homicide data is compiled based on the Homicide Squad Case List Log. Count is based on offence (i.e each deceased victim)
• Victim: Any deceased person where the offence of First or Second Degree Murder or Manslaughter was committed.
• Type: Homicides are categorized into three types:
  • Stabbing: Where the cause of death was as a result of an edged weapon (such as a knife or other blade).
  • Shooting: Where the cause of death was as a result of being shot with a firearm.
  • Other: Where the cause of death was as a result of other methods such as blunt force trauma or strangulation.

Robbery: The act of taking property from another person or business by the use of force or intimidation in the presence of the victim.

Sexual Violation: A wide range of offences fall under the Sexual Assault category, including sexual assault (s. 271), sexual assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm (s. 272), aggravated sexual assault (s. 273), administering drugs for sex (s. 212), indecent assault (s. 141, 149, 148, 156) sexual interference (s. 151), invitation to sexual touching (s. 152), and sexual exploitation (s. 153). It refers to any type of sexual activity that is not consented to. Behaviours may range in severity from gestures, verbal assaults and attempts, to forced penetration, disfigurement and endangerment of life. More so than with any other type of crime, sexual assaults (including child abuse) are often reported to police long after the incident has taken place, if they are reported at all.

Shooting:

• Occurrence: Incidents where the victim(s) was reported to have been shot or shot at with a real firearm (firearm as defined under the Criminal Code of Canada). Refers to any incident where evidence exists that a bullet (s) was discharged from a real firearm including accidental discharge (non-police), celebratory fire, drive-by etc. Excludes events such as suicide, dispatch animal, police-involved or any event where the weapon used was not a real firearm (such as pellet gun, air pistol, “simmunition” etc.)
• Victim: Any person who was shot or shot at.
• Injury Level: Extent of a victim’s injury at the time of the incident where the injury was directly caused by a bullet. • Not applicable: Incident does not involve the use of weapons nor physical force against the victim.
  • Unknown: The extent of the injury to the victim could not be determined.
  • No Injuries: No visible injury at the time of the incident.
  • Injuries: Non-fatal physical injuries that may or may not have required professional medical treatment, first aid or transportation to a medical facility.
  • Death: Loss of life. Theft Over: The act of stealing property in excess of $5,000 (excluding auto theft).

Theft Over: The act of stealing property in excess of $5,000 (excluding auto theft).