TORONTO, June 28 (UPI) -- Small urban areas in Canada have higher overall crime rates than rural or large urban areas, a study of 2005 police data found.
The overall crime rate in small urban areas was 43 percent higher than in large urban areas, and 58 percent higher than in rural areas, the study concluded.
However, homicide rates were highest in rural areas of Canada, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
Of the 658 homicides in Canada in 2005 with a known location, 427 were committed in large urban areas, 95 in small urban areas and 135 in rural areas.
The homicide rate of 2.5 homicides per 100,000 people in rural areas was higher than the rate of 2.0 in large urban areas and 1.7 in small urban areas.
Handguns were used in 76 percent of firearm homicides in large urban areas. In rural areas, rifles or shotguns were the most prevalent, the report said.
The highest homicide rates in the country were found in rural areas of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta.
