Report shows rise in homicide investigations in Guelph last year

Guelph Police Services responded to a record number of homicide investigations in 2023, according to a new data.

The force’s annual report released in June notes a trend of firearms and other weapons being used in the city, and a “significant concern” of human trafficking and intimate partner violence. Police also saw a decrease in vehicle thefts, cyber crime, crimes against property and crimes against a person.

Police are noting a large increase in the number of homicide investigations opened in 2023.

“In the last 10 years, there would probably be an approximate average of one homicide investigation a year in Guelph. With five last year, that’s an unprecedented number for us,” Gord Cobey, Guelph’s Chief of Police, said in an interview with CityNews 570.

“We’re not built to do four or five homicide investigations in one year, so it’s a tremendous amount of work and draw on resources to support those investigations.”

Cobey also mentioned Guelph police have had a record number of calls for service; 84,333 last year, of which only 107 of those reports included use of force or an intervention option. He said that represents a very small or limited interaction they have with the public, adding most interactions are supportive ones.

“The record number of proactive engagements with our citizens…This was particularly notable in our downtown. Last year where we dedicated several extra resources to support the downtown community. That was very well received both by our members and our citizens,” he said.

The case clearance rate rose from 50.4 per cent in 2022 to 54.7 per cent in 2023.

“We had an encouraging reduction in the number of break ins and motor vehicle thefts. I think that’s a testament to an investment we made a couple years ago in a dedicated break and enter and auto theft team. We’ve demonstrated the impact we have when we make necessary investments to support important areas of service delivery.”

Vehicle thefts dropped from 259 to 194 in that time span.

Total highway traffic act violations rose from 5,469 to 6,433, representing a 14.8 per cent increase. Speeding violations also rose in 2023 to 3,210 from 2,678.

The report also showed a slight drop in reported violent crime, from 1,495 to 1,464. Assaults and firearm related offences jumped slightly from 735 to 743. Robbery rose from 36 to 41 reported incidents. Second degree murder rose from two to four cases.

The report also showed a slight rise in hate crime from 2022 from 13 to 15. Cyber crime dropped from 516 to 417 occurrences in 2023.

The report highlights May as their busiest month and Friday as the busiest day of the week for Guelph Police Services.

Cobey added that the community’s biggest priority is improving road safety. He hopes to improve that in the next couple of years, increasing visibility for traffic enforcement.

A full version of the report can be found here.