The year 2021 has not been easy for Laval peace officers. The Laval Police Service (SPL) unveiled its report on criminal activities on Wednesday and there are few encouraging data.
The total number of “reported cases” at the SPL increased by 14% in 2021 compared to 2020, the police force’s annual report indicates.
The increase in criminality is particularly noticeable in the category of “crimes against the person” (murder, assault, sexual crimes, etc.), with a recorded increase of 25%.
The “solution rate” of these crimes against the person has declined. In 2021, nearly 76% of these crimes were solved, compared to 82.66% in 2020 and 85.91% in 2019. The SPL explains that the high volume of files explains this setback, but that the compilation of this rates at the start of 2022, i.e. earlier in previous reviews, also weighs on these results. “As the files under investigation are resolved, the 2021 rate should evolve upwards”, summarizes the SPL.
The scourge of shootings in Quebec has not escaped the territory of Île Jésus. Where there were 18 gun discharge events in 2019, there were 42 in 2021.” [Les coups de feu] mainly occurred in public places, and mostly in the Chomedey district, ”says the SPL.
The number of victims of domestic violence in 2021 also peaked, with an 11% increase. “The previous year, the lowest number declared in five years had been recorded”, relativizes the SPL.
The arrests of people in a “disturbed mental state” continued their upward trend that began at least in 2017, with 2,275 events recorded in 2021. This is an average of 6 interventions each day.
To all this work were added interventions related to health measures. No less than 1,027 cases related to curfew or mask-wearing violations were recorded.
Among the good news, the SPL notes a decrease in robberies, from 204 in 2020 to 147 in 2021.
More details will follow.