Homicide rates in London have dropped significantly since 2013, which saw 10 murders as compared to only three in 2014, according to Statistics Canada’s most recent annual homicide report.

The last two years have yielded the lowest homicide rates in Canada since 1966, though a total of 516 cases of homicide were reported in 2014, four more than the previous year. According to deputy chief with the LPS Daryl Longworth in an article by AM980, six homicides have occurred in London in 2015 thus far.

According to Const. Ken Steeves, media officer for the London Police Service (LPS), “It’s difficult to pinpoint the reasons for the difference. If you look back at all of our stats, there’s one year that we had 14, and then as the years progressed it was dramatically reduced, so they fluctuate. None of them are connected.”

“The efforts of our medical staff can certainly be credited for there being [fewer] homicides in the sense that lifesaving efforts and abilities continue to increase… There is no definitive reason as to why there is a difference.”

As to whether the statistics hint at a trend, Steeves said, “There is no way of knowing as to whether future years are going to increase or decrease. For the most part almost every homicide we have the victim and the offender or offenders are known to one another.”

Victims had some form of relationship with their killer in 83 per cent of all homicide cases in Canada reported in 2014 according to Statistics Canada.

Acquaintances were the offenders in the majority of these cases, with family members falling close behind. Criminal associates were offenders in six per cent of these cases.

“We have control over who it is that we associate with. If you are involved in the drug lifestyle, then that certainly increases the chance for violence. The use of alcohol [also] increases the chance for violence,” Steeves said.

Steeves assured that students do not need to be alarmed by the figures.

“Law abiding citizens for the most part are safe from physical harm. That’s not the be all and end all, but it certainly helps out.”

Ontario was one of five provinces that reported fewer homicides in 2014, alongside Nova Scotia, which yielded its lowest homicide rate ever recorded.

Conversely, a number of provinces reported higher homicide rates, with Alberta earning the highest increase.

Though aboriginal people make up only five per cent of the Canadian population, they accounted for 23 per cent of all homicide victims in 2014, almost one quarter of all homicides last year.

Homicide rates for non-aboriginal females have been gradually declining since 1991, while the rate of aboriginal female victims has stayed consistent since 1980.

Aboriginal males were seven times more likely to be victims of homicide than non-aboriginal males, and three times more likely than aboriginal females according to Statistics Canada.

Reports of intimate partner homicides rose last year, with females being four times more at risk.

Firearm related homicides increased by 14 per cent in 2014, with handguns being the weapon of choice in two thirds of the total 156 firearm related homicides cases reported by police.

To ensure personal safety, Steeves recommended that students keep abiding by the law and if there is a potential for violence to occur, to get away from the environment and call the police.

“We as the London Police Service are committed to ensuring a safe and secure community. We work with community partners to [ensure] the safety of the citizens within our community, but the citizens play a role in this as well… whenever there is any suspicious activity we encourage people to contact us.”