Stats show HRM homicides up in 2011

Homicides and attempted homicides in Halifax were up in 2011 by about 70 per cent from the year before, according to Halifax Regional Police crime statistics.

There were eight more homicides in 2011 with 19 cases, up from 11 in 2010. Attempted murder cases went up by 13, from 19 cases in 2010 to 32 cases by the end of 2011.

The eastern and northern areas of Dartmouth had the highesthomicide rate and attemptedhomicides in the area doubled from the year before. The area also hadthe most assaults.

Frank Beazley, Halifax's chief of police,went over the crime statistics at the meeting of the board of police commissioners Monday afternoon.He also talked about the causes of crime, including poverty.

"We need a long, long-term strategy to deal with some of the social conditions we have in this city,"Beazley said.

"The amount of apartment buildings in north end Dartmouth, or public housing unitshave tended to put all kinds of people who need help, together without services,"he told CBC News.

"That's the area that also has a high level of crime."

A lot of the violent crime in HRM in 2011 was between people who knew each other, Beazley said, except in downtown Halifax.

Alcohol was blamed in60 to 80 per cent of violent crime in thedowntown area, he said.

"Because of the high concentration of liquor establishments and history of heavy drinking," Beazley said.

"If I could take the alcohol out of this, I would plummet assaults in HRM."

There have beencalls for bars in HRM to closeearlier, but one councillor doesn't think that will fix the problem.

"Don't forget that the bars reacted when the [Nova Scotia] Liquor Commissions increased their hours of operation," said Coun. Sue Uteck.

"Twenty-five years ago, the liquor stores closed at 5 p.m. and now close at 11 p.m. You have drive-thrus, so I think that's contributing to part of the problem.

"The kids aren't going out at 7:30 or 8 o'clock, they're going out at 1 a.m. that's an issue."

The overall crime rate droppedmore than 10per cent from 2010 to 2011,Beazley said, including a 12 per cent drop in property crime, a 23 per cent decrease in break and enters, and afive per cent drop in theft over $5,000.

Violent crime was down almost one per cent, a police release said.