加拿大的犯罪率降至40年最低水平

 　　OTTAWA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Canadian police services reported nearly 2 million criminal incidents in 2012, a 3 percent drop from 2011, or 36,000 fewer than in the previous year, Statistics Canada reported Thursday.

　　The crime rate is the lowest level since 1972, the report said.

　　The drop in the crime rate was due to decreases in non-violent crimes..

　　Among major urban centers, the Greater Toronto Area home to about 6 million people -- reported a 7 percent decrease in its police-reported crime rate in 2012 and had the lowest crime rate in Canada for the sixth consecutive¹ year.

　　Kelowna in the western province of British Columbia with a population of about 185,000 experienced a 6 percent surge in its crime rate and had the country's highest crime rate in 2012.

　　Canadian police services also reported just over 415,000 violence incidents last year, a decrease of 9,000 from 2011, said Statistics Canada. In 2012, Canada's violent crime rate fell by 3 percent to its lowest level since 1987.

　　In 2012, police reported 543 homicides, or 55 fewer than in 2011. Canada's homicide rate of 1.56 homicides per 100,000 people was the lowest since 1966.

　　Statistics Canada said that beyond homicides, the police- reported crime rate fell for most violent crimes, particularly major sexual assault, robbery, and assault on a peace officer.

　　There were also more terrorism-related incidents last year -- an increase by 55 compared to 2011. Statistics Canada reported that the increase was mainly the result of "an unusually high number of hoax² terrorism incidents", most of which occurred in Quebec during the student demonstrations³ in the spring of 2012.

1 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

2 hoax   

v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧

参考例句：

• They were the victims of a cruel hoax.他们是一个残忍恶作剧的受害者。
• They hoax him out of his money.他们骗去他的钱。

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。