New study shows higher incidence of violent crime in poor Vancouver neighbourhoods, theft in wealthier ones

A new study co-authored by Simon Fraser University researchers has found a rise in violent crime in Vancouver's poorer neighbourhoods during the pandemic,while wealthier areas saw a small uptick in theft-related crimes.

"During the pandemic we found that overall, crime tends to increase more in marginalized areas within the city," saidprofessor Martin Andresen in a statement.

Andresenand co-authorTarah HodgkinsonofWilfrid Laurier University found that between March 1, 2020 and Feb.28, 2021, arson, assault, robbery and weapon-related offences increased in the downtown core, as well as in the neighbourhoods of Strathcona and Mount Pleasant.

Meanwhile,the average monthly number of theftincidents went downin all of Vancouver.

The central business district downtown and surrounding areas saw a decrease in theft of vehicle and theft from vehiclecrimes,according to the study.

Andresensaysthis can be attributed to the fact that many businesses were closed duringparts of the pandemic and employees hadto work from home.

"For the people who ended up living in Vancouver and working downtown, they were no longer downtown which is where a lot of these crimes happened normally," he said.

However, more affluent neighbourhoods, like Kerrisdale, Dunbar-Southlands and West Point Grey saw a slight increasein theft-related incidents.

The researchersalso found thatpeople living in more disadvantaged areas experienced significant pandemic-related job loss.

Andresen andTarah Hodgkinsontracked 10 types of crime across 22 neighbourhoods in Vancouver and used open-source data from the Vancouver Police Department andthe City of Vancouver, andcensus data from Statistics Canada, to find outhow socio-economic factors may have played a rolein the increase in crime.

"What this shows here is that we need to be providing more support to thesepopulations in Vancouver during an exceptional event like this pandemic, because they're the ones that get hit hardest," Andresen told CBC Newsin a phone interview.

In a pressconference Wednesday,after being asked multiple times about safety concerns following a New Year's Eveattack on a young woman,Mayor Kennedy Stewart saidhe has full confidence in the Vancouver Police Departmentand that they're doing all they can to keep people safe.

"I do think Vancouver is safe. It's one of the safest cities in the world, however, we can always do more," he said.