The Vancouver Board of Trade has pulled in the same cast as it did in 2005 for its October 25 policy forum titled Crime in Vancouver: An Update.

“Our region is among the most crime-ridden major metropolitan areas in Canada or the U.S.,” charges the October 5 news release sent to the Straight. “Efforts are being made to change that. How successful have they been? What more is planned?”

The sit-down event is at the Marriott Pinnacle hotel, where B.C. Provincial Court Chief Judge Hugh Campbell Stansfield, Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham, and the board's chief economist Dave Park will again discuss the issues.

According to SFU criminologist Neil Boyd, there is a familiar ring to what the board is trying to convey. But he says it is omitting to do one vital thing: ”define the crime”.

“The answer [to whether or not Vancouver really is crime-ridden] depends on how you define the crime,” Boyd told the Straight. “Do we have a problem with auto theft, property crimes, and [breaking and entering]? Yes, probably, and we know the numbers. Do we have a city where it's not safe for people to walk at night? Well, it's unpleasant in some areas, but in terms of serious, predatory violence, we don't have that the same way here.”

The board will present updates on how Vancouver compares “with other cities, the success of crime-fighting strategies and the key challenges to subduing crime”, the press release notes. A new report will be unveiled on what influences criminal activity from birth to adulthood.

Boyd said that with most insurance companies demanding a deductible much higher than $200 to file a claim””he puts it at about $1,000””many property crimes are going unreported.

“So there's probably even more property crime than 10 years ago,” Boyd notes. “But without a definition, I don't want to speculate. Are we seeing more cases of aggravated sexual assault, homicide, and violent crime? No.”