A criminologist says new crime statistics show that the province is changing.

The total crime rate in Newfoundland and Labrador rose by 4 per cent last year, but by 13 per cent from ten years ago, according to Statistics Canada. Nationally, the rate increased by 2 per cent.

Dr. Adrienne Peters, a criminologist and faculty member in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University, says the numbers show a change occurring in the province.

She says the province is dynamic and growing, but if Newfoundland and Labrador is not prepared for what the world is bringing to us, especially in terms of mental health and addictions, then those numbers will continue to be higher than they have been historically.

Dr. Peters says any change in these numbers are going to look bigger than they actually are due to Newfoundland and Labrador’s traditionally low crime rate.

She says the baseline that the rates come from is so low that there will naturally be changes in the numbers. That shouldn’t necessarily be alarming, but it is something for government and the justice system to take notice of.