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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Recent statistics show the NWT is still leading the way in Canada when it comes to crime rates.

Statistics Canada numbers released in mid-July indicate the NWT had 18,659 offences under the Criminal Code in 2007, excluding traffic violations. NWT crime increased by 6.2 per cent 2006 when there were a total of 17,473 such offences.

The only other jurisdictions in Canada to see an increase were the Yukon, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The NWT crime rate was 43,762 offences per 100,000 people, far and away the highest proportion in Canada.

The country's second highest crime rate was in Nunavut where 29,917 offences occurred per 100,000 people. Ontario's rate was the lowest, at 5,228.

The overall Canadian crime rate stood at 6,984 offences per 100,000 people -- amounting to a seven per cent decline in crime and the third consecutive annual decrease.

There was one positive sign in the statistics for the NWT. The number of property crime offences decreased to 2,471 in 2007, compared to 2,680 in 2006.

However, the number of violent crimes in the NWT increased to 3,015 in 2007, compared to 2,717 in 2006.

Const. Roxanne Dreilich, a spokesperson for the RCMP's G Division in the NWT, said the number of offences that police are seeing at the various detachments is steady.

"There might be fluctuations here and there, but overall it's not a red flag for us with numbers going up and down," Dreilich said.

In Fort Smith, Mayor Peter Martselos has noticed recent decreases in crime.

"I have a feeling there's less crime this summer than in past summers," he said.

The mayor said part of the decline can be credited to a youth worker who has been helping young people in his town over the last year.

As for violent crime across the NWT, Martselos largely blames illegal drugs and alcohol.