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People cannot enjoy life if they feel their safety and security are at risk. Violent crime rates are one measure of safety. Property crimes, safety when driving, and general feelings of safety are other ways to measure safety.

For each of the following indicators, please grade Waterloo Region's performance. The same indicator for other communities has been included to provide points of comparison.

• Crimes Against Property
• The Criminal Code Traffic Crime Rate
• Violent Crime
• General Satisfaction with Personal Safety
• One's Feeling of Safety When Out Alone

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, references to "Kitchener" refer to the Kitchener Census Metropolitan Area (CMA).

Crimes Against Property such as theft, break-and-enter, arson, etc. affect the way people feel about the safety of their community and their homes. The lower the property crime rate, the safer people feel.

• Waterloo Region: 3,253
• Hamilton: 1,955
• London: 4,656
• Windsor: 4,919

Source: OMBI 2005 Performance Benchmarking Report

The Criminal Code Traffic Crime Rate measures such violations as dangerous operation of a vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, and impaired operation of a vehicle. The higher the rate, the more fearful people are of driving on our streets.

• Waterloo Region: 191.9
• Sudbury: 175.3
• Toronto: 234.5
• Ottawa: 268.1

Note: * per 100,000
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 252-0013

Violent Crimes such as assault, sexual assault and homicide make people fear for their personal safety and that of their friends and loved ones. The lower the violent crime rate, the safer people feel.

• Waterloo Region: 539
• Windsor: 616
• London: 812
• Hamilton: 866

Source: OMBI 2005 Performance Benchmarking Report

General Satisfaction With Personal Safety is another way to measure how safe people feel. This indicator is based on people's responses to a survey of different aspects of community life.

• Waterloo Region: 96 %
• Toronto: 93 %
• Sudbury: 95 %
• Ottawa: 95 %

Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2004. cycle 18 overview: personal safety and perceptions of the criminal justice system. Information for provinces from the General Survey on Victimization, Cycle 18: An Overview of Findings, 2004, Table 4.

One's Feeling Of Safety When Out Alone is an indicator of how a person responds to the community environment when focusing on oneself instead of the community as a whole.

• Waterloo Region: 77 %
• Toronto: 74%
• Ottawa: 78 %
• Sudbury: 81 %

Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2004. cycle 18 overview: personal safety and perceptions of the criminal justice system. Information for provinces from the General Survey on Victimization, Cycle 18: An Overview of Findings, 2004, Table 4.