Although the data from the GSS on Victimization and the UCR both note trends in crime rates, methodological differences between these two processes produce complementary data that provide a comprehensive vision of criminal activity in Canada. Since 1962, Statistics Canada has been collecting police-reported crime data annually through the establishing Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. The crime rate is calculated by the sum of all Criminal Code incidents recorded by the police, divided by the population for comparison across geographic regions. Police-recorded data capture only those crimes reported and recorded by the police, which can be influenced by factors, such as, relationship of the offender and police and policing activities. At first, it seemed to be an adequate method for displaying the crime rates in Canada, however
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“According to victimization data, in 2004, about two-thirds of criminal activity experienced by the citizens of Canada were not reported to the police” (Boyce, 2015, p.18). Victimization surveys rely on respondents of households via phone interviews to self-report incidents accurately based on questions for a reference period of the preceding 12 months. This method may be subjective as authentic memories of incidents may have faded over time. (Morden and Palys, 2015) Non-respondents included people who refused to cooperate, could not be contacted, or could not be communicated with as they did not speak English or French. Information from the entire population is typically not covered, such as youth under age of 15, individuals not living in a household, and businesses. Additionally, the GSS on Victimization also only surveys on eight types of offences: sexual assault, robbery, physical assault, theft of personal property, break and enter, theft of motor vehicle or parts, vandalism. (Perrault,
“According to victimization data, in 2004, about two-thirds of criminal activity experienced by the citizens of Canada were not reported to the police” (Boyce, 2015, p.18). Victimization surveys rely on respondents of households via phone interviews to self-report incidents accurately based on questions for a reference period of the preceding 12 months. This method may be subjective as authentic memories of incidents may have faded over time. (Morden and Palys, 2015) Non-respondents included people who refused to cooperate, could not be contacted, or could not be communicated with as they did not speak English or French. Information from the entire population is typically not covered, such as youth under age of 15, individuals not living in a household, and businesses. Additionally, the GSS on Victimization also only surveys on eight types of offences: sexual assault, robbery, physical assault, theft of personal property, break and enter, theft of motor vehicle or parts, vandalism. (Perrault,