Violent Crimes Have Increased by Over 10% in Guelph: Police Report

According to the Guelph Police Service’s 2024 Annual Report, the city saw a notable increase in violent crime last year, with Crimes Against the Person rising by 10.2% compared to 2023.

There were 1,681 reported occurrences in this category in 2024, up from 1,475 the previous year. This increase raised the occurrence rate from 959.7 to 1,057.2 per 100,000 population, based on Statistics Canada population estimates.

Among the specific offences:

• Sexual violations rose from 159 to 204 incidents, an increase of 24%
• Robbery increased from 41 to 51 cases, a 20.2% rise
• Assaults and firearm-related offences climbed from 747 to 806 occurrences
• Attempted murder reports went from 0 in 2023 to 5 in 2024
• Second-degree murder cases declined from 4 to 2

Despite the rise in overall cases, the clearance rate for crimes in this category increased slightly—from 3.7%, indicating a marginal improvement in resolving these offences.

In response to the trend, the Guelph Police Service has emphasized a strategic focus on combating intimate partner violence and human trafficking, and has launched new initiatives and community partnerships aimed at addressing violent crime. Specialized teams have been created to improve victim support and offender accountability.

The report describes the upward trend as a concern and indicates that the Service is working closely with social services and community organizations to implement proactive violence-reduction strategies.

Crimes Against the Person include serious offences such as assault, robbery, homicide, and sexual violence. The rise in these incidents marks a reversal from the city’s overall decline in property-related crimes and reinforces the need for coordinated efforts to enhance public safety.