- The difference between a divorce and an annulment - April 15, 2024
- Hidden costs to be aware of when buying a house - April 3, 2024
- The rules about legally transporting a firearm in Canada - April 1, 2024
By LegalMatters Staff • Crime is often viewed as an urban issue. It is not. Recent studies show that rural crime rates are rising across Canada, especially in the Prairies.
The RCMP reports that while property crimes have decreased in Alberta in recent years, the incidence of overall rural crime rate remains high. Their numbers show that the rural crime rate in the Prairies is about 36 to 42 percent higher than in urban centres.
Rural residents who have been victims of these crimes say that one major factor is the slow police response time since most police stations are located in urban centres.
A common crime is the theft of items such as vehicles, tools, farm machinery and livestock. Per capita, rural residents are more likely to be charged with physical assault, mischief and disturbing the peace.
Calgary criminal lawyer Greg Dunn has defended individuals charged with Criminal Code offences, including those accused of rural crime at every level of court in Alberta. He notes that firearm offences are on the rise in rural areas, including discharging or pointing a firearm.
Dunn says there have been high-profile incidents where a rural resident felt they had no choice but to fire on intruders on their property, knowing that a call to the police would not be answered in time.
