Ottawa Crime Rate Rises in 2025, Remains Above Provincial Benchmark
According to a newly released report from the Ottawa Police Service, the overall crime rate in Canada's capital increased in 2025, continuing a trend of remaining above the provincial average for Ontario. The report, which serves as a key performance indicator ahead of the Ottawa Police Service Board meeting, provides a detailed analysis of crime trends in the city.
Key Statistics and Crime Rate Details
The overall crime rate in Ottawa was recorded at 4,494 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025. This figure represents a slight increase and places the city above the Ontario average. The report attributes this rise primarily to specific offence categories, including theft under $5,000, arson, auto theft, and harassment-related crimes.
Preliminary statistics for 2025 indicate a one-per-cent increase in total crime, excluding traffic offences, compared to 2024 levels. Violent crimes saw a more pronounced rise of three per cent during the same period, while property crime increased by less than one per cent.
Mixed Trends in Crime Severity and Specific Offences
Despite the overall increase, Ottawa's Crime Severity Index remained below the provincial average at 55.8. The Ottawa Police Service noted that fewer shootings and a decrease in hate-motivated crimes contributed positively to this statistic. However, an uptick in assaults continued to exert upward pressure on the index.
The report reveals several notable decreases in serious crimes:
- A 19-per-cent decrease in homicides year-over-year
- A 27-per-cent decrease in shooting incidents year-over-year
- A seven-per-cent decrease in sexual violations
- A 10-per-cent decrease in break-and-enter offences
Hate-motivated crimes also declined by 21 per cent, with approximately 358 incidents reported to police in 2025. The Ottawa Police Service cautioned that the actual number may be higher due to under-reporting of such incidents.
Areas of Concern and Increases in Specific Crimes
Several crime categories showed concerning increases between 2024 and 2025:
- Robberies increased by 15 per cent
- Theft of $5,000 and under increased by five per cent
- Intimate partner violence increased by nine per cent year-over-year
Regarding intimate partner violence, the Ottawa Police Service reported an average of 20 related calls per day during the first six months of 2025. Most calls (81 per cent) were made by women, with the largest segment of callers (50 per cent) aged between 30 and 45 years.
Contextual Factors and Police Commentary
The report suggests that Ottawa has experienced slight increases in the overall crime rate for several years, driven by factors such as population growth and the rising cost of living. Ottawa Police Service Chief Eric Stubbs previously commented on these challenges, noting that the growing vulnerable population, social disorder, and open drug use in the downtown core have overwhelmed social agencies that support these communities.
"People aren't feeling as safe as they used to with some of the social disorder and the open drug use and whatnot," Stubbs stated during a year-end interview, highlighting public safety concerns in the city.
The comprehensive data from the Ottawa Police Service report provides valuable insights for policymakers, law enforcement, and residents as they address crime prevention and community safety strategies in the nation's capital.
