Handcuffs
The number of murders and attempted murders were up in Halifax in 2011 compared to the year before, but overall levels of crime are falling in the city.
The numbers show a record 19 homicides last year, a nearly 73 per cent increase from the 11 in 2010.
Attempted murders rose by nearly 69 per cent, to 32 last year from 19 the year before.
Police spokesman Constable Brian Palmeter says a lot of the violent crime is between people engaged in a criminal lifestyle.
He says it doesn't pose a risk to the average citizen.
Two of the homicides were nursing home deaths in which no one was found culpable, while another resulted from a car crash after which a driver was charged with criminal negligence causing death.
However, investigators also dealt with separate, random killings of two elderly people.
The annual Halifax police crime statistics released yesterday also show that property crimes have fallen.
Total criminal code offences are also down by about 18 per cent.