The Winnipeg Police Service is noting a leap in one reported crime category by as much as 47.6 per cent compared to five years ago.

In 2019, crimes increased in two categories in Winnipeg. Overall from 2018-2019, crime increased by 10 per cent, and from 2014, increasing by 34.8 per cent.

The largest rise in crime statistics comes from Property Crimes with a whopping 47.6 per cent increase compared to five years ago. A total of 51,483 property crimes were recorded by the police in 2019, resulting in a 14.8 per cent increase compared to 2018.

Coming in second is Violent Crimes, increasing by 17 per cent compared to five years ago. A total of 10,878 violent crimes were recorded in 2019, resulting in a four per cent increase from last year.

In total, 69,294 crimes were recorded by the Winnipeg Police Service.

For Winnipeg Police Service's Chief Danny Smyth, violence against children is particularly difficult to see.

"There are some pretty heartbreaking and unforgettable homicides that we have experienced," he says.

Smyth notes several homicides involving children, including three-year-old Hunter Straight-Smith, occurred last year.

The Chief notes that roughly 25 per cent of homicides that occurred in 2019 were domestic. Currently, four of last year's homicides remain unsolved. Smyth says homicide rates in Winnipeg for 2020 are similar to last year's rates.

Included in the Property Crimes category is last year's Liquor Mart robberies.

"Almost 30 per cent of thefts that were reported occurred in liquor stores throughout the city."

Working with the stores, police say that the Liquor Mart rethunk their retail model last year to help detur thefts. 

Two categories, Drug Crimes and Other Crimes, both have reported decreases in activity from the Winnipeg Police Service.

Drug Crimes decreased by 18.3 per cent from 2018, and 42.3 per cent from five years ago. The WPS is reporting 564 instances of Drug Crimes for 2019.

The drop includes a 100 per cent decrease in Cannabis Possession, as it was legalized in 2018.

The Other Crimes category saw a small change, a 0.5 per cent decrease from 2018 to 2019, but is up 7.5 per cent from five years ago.

The WPS has removed officers from the Traffic Unit, placing them in other units such as General Patrol to help combat the increased demand on streets.

"We are a part of our community and we are doing our best," Winnipeg Police Service's Chief Danny Smyth says. "We are doing the best that we can to meet the needs of our community with the resources that we have."

The increase in demand also resulted in decreasing the WPS's school education programming.

The WPS cut approximately 100 positions last year from the service. Smyth estimates that currently there are 1357 WPS officers.

Chief Smyth also shared his stance on the decriminalization of recreational drugs as well as addressing current conversations regarding defunding the police and increasing social supports.

"It is not a mutually exclusive thing. I have always advocated for additional money for social services."

Smyth would like to see more community supports, including those struggling with addiction.

"It is a health issue. We have a role to play as police," Smyth says. "People that are struggling with addictions, we do not want to criminalize that. We do not want to send them into the justice system."

Smyth hopes to see more health supports for those with addictions.

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