HRP chief thinks country-wide dropping crime rates may be misleading

The chief of Halifax Regional Police says statistics suggesting crime rates in Canada have been falling for decades may by thrown off by the migration of crimes onto the Internet.

Jean-Michel Blais says there are indications that on-line crime is not reflected in traditional crime data.

Blais plans to explore the issue today in a speech to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.

In 2014, a study in the United Kingdom found just over half of those surveyed had been the victim of an online crime, including identity theft, hacking and illegal access to bank accounts.