Crime rates up slightly in North

Crime rates are going down everywhere in Canada except the Northern territories and parts of the Maritimes.

Statistics Canada says the police-reported crime rate per 100,000 population in 2012 was up by one per cent in Yukon and N.W.T., and by three per cent in Nunavut, compared toa national decrease of three per cent.

StatsCan analyst Warren Silver said the Yukon increase was largely due to minor crimes.

"When we looked at what was really driving the increase in Yukon, it was largely driven by a 10 per cent increase in disturbing the peace violations," he said.

"In general, in the Yukon both the violent crime rate and the property crime rate decreased."

Crime rates in P.E.I. and New Brunswick were up by four per cent last year.

Nationally the crime rate is on a downward trend and last year hit the lowest level since 1972.

The Crime Severity Index, which measures the severity of crime, also dropped three per cent nationally in 2012, but rose by one per cent in all three territories.