I have found this web site, and the results are a bit worrying. Particularly the number of reported rape cases. Canada has 3 times the amount than in britain in a country with half the poulation. Take a look at this.

http://www.nationmaster.com/red/graph-T/cri_rap&int=7

Can anyone shed any light on this, is it common to hear of rapes in the news?

Thanks Jo

I wouldn't worry about that!!
It's very difficult to compare crime statistics across countries.
Perhaps Canadians are more likely to report rapes to the police?
Perhaps Canadians are more likely to follow it through to prosecution?
Rape statistics are massively underestimated in the first place, since most people do not report rape to police. Very sad, but true.

In any case, it's extremely rare even in high crime countries.

I wouldn't let this put you off. Canada is a very safe nation in my experience! Petty crime appears to the worst problem, and even that is nowhere near as bad as in the UK, IMO.

http://www.minjust.nl:8080/b_organ/w...s/ob187sum.htm

This gives the crime victimisation rates for different nations. A much better way to compare countries.

Australia, England/Wales, Netherlands and Sweden have the highest rates of crime.

As you see, women in Sweden, England/Wales, Finland and Australia are most at risk. Although it also says there is little difference between countries, which I suppose is unsurprising. You're either a rapist or you're not!

Thanks for your replies and input.
Jo

Somebody posted the nationmaster link here before, and I have spent quite a while comparing different issues between UK and Canada, I must say the difference in crime rate is not that huge. For instance, in Calgary, the number of household burglaries grew 20% in a year. There were around 10 murders since the beginning of the year, in 1 million population. All I am saying is Canada is by no means crime-free country, and the nationmaster statistics show it quite well.

Alexandra, no that is true. These statistics certainly opened my eyes! I mean Sweden? Who'd have thought it! I always imagined Sweden to be about the most law-abiding of countries. Turns out it's crime ridden! I wasn't surprised Australia, UK and Holland had the highest crime rates. I've been to Holland several times and it's really bad! They'll nick anything if it's not bolted down! Lovely place though!!

As people have said, I'd be very cautious comparing murder rates. Leeds has had several murders this year, most of them gang related. If you're not a gang member or involved in the seedy underworld, the risk of being murdered is miniscule! They don't drive about shooting anyone! Petty crime is pretty much rampant all over the world. Someone had their hand in my bag in Florence! Same everywhere.

I suspect Canadians are more willing to report crimes, and police record more of them.

Also remember that there is different awareness of the laws about rape in different countries. For example, drunken one night stands do result in rape convictions in Canada, without the standards of violence or coercion that may be required in other jurisdictions. I do not want to begin a discussion about what constitutes rape, what I am merely pointing out is that things are recorded differently in different countries because laws are different.

I suspect Canada:

a) has a population with a very high propensity for reporting crimes;
b) has a police force with a very high propensity for recording and investigating crimes;
c) has a very high conviction rate.

I had to smile this mornig as I listened to the local news on the radio, they were reporting a purse snatching and a stolen car. Where I live, it's still rare enough to be newsworthy! Of course that is not in a big city

Iain

Hiya - another useful site for comparing crime between provinces in Canada &/or US is http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/crime.html (You can also compare salaries, cost of living etc. in this site)

It is quite interesting finding that Nashville is much worse for crime than the Bronx in New York. Very eye opening..

There is also another site here showing crime results comparing Europe, US and Canada, and Canada has the lowest results for death by violence! http://www.investni.com/index/locate...ts_-_crime.htm

Sleep tight!