If you think the neighborhood has become less secure over time, you’re not the only one who feels that way.
Recently, a new survey revealed a gap between how Ontarians view crime in their communities and what police report regarding actual crime rates.
Liaison Strategies conducted this phone survey over two days in late October, asking participants if they believed the rates of specific crimes had gone up, stayed the same, or decreased in the past year. The crimes included: homicide, assaults, robberies, break-ins, motor vehicle thefts, fraud and cybercrime, and hate-motivated offenses.
The survey focused on Ontario’s largest cities: Brampton, Hamilton, London, Markham, Mississauga, Ottawa, Toronto, Vaughan, Windsor and Kitchener.
Around 800 residents from Kitchener took part in the survey.
Nearly three-quarters (70 percent) felt that the overall national crime rate had increased over the last year. This perception was shared by 74 percent of women and 68 percent of men.
Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) Chief Mark Crowell discussed the survey results during an appearance on The Mike Farwell Show. He noted that with so many sources of information available today, it’s no surprise people receive mixed messages.
“We continue to have a mix of traditional media and the on-the-ground connections that we have. But we also know people are in their own echo chambers of the algorithms and they’re seeing videos; they’re looking at things from across the world or across North America or across Canada. It’s helping to create that perception whether it’s true or not.”
Crowell emphasized that WRPS takes community safety perceptions very seriously.
“What I’ve learned in my time in this role is we can have all the data in the world but if that resident or family or neighborhood doesn’t feel safe then that’s what we need to get after.”
Crowell acknowledged that while WRPS has recorded a drop in incidents like violent assaults and vehicle thefts, there are certain areas experiencing increases.
“The two categories where I would say we’re seeing huge increases are fraud and cybercrime as well as hate-crime reporting. Also some weapons offenses have been creeping up for several years now. This is always a challenge for us because we want everyone to feel safe where they are but one single incident can raise feelings of insecurity within a family or neighborhood or even our whole region.”
Traffic Concerns
Data indicates there was an increase in road fatalities within Waterloo Region last year.
Staff Sgt. Scott Griffiths with WRPS Traffic Services Unit reported there were 19 fatal crashes resulting in 20 deaths-up from 15 fatal collisions which resulted in 17 deaths back in 2024.
Out of those fatalities last year, seven were pedestrians.
“That’s a number I’m very concerned about,” Griffiths stated.
He pointed out that many pedestrian-related accidents happened at or near intersections so they will be increasing enforcement efforts in those spots.
The officers will also get assistance from a new road safety team that’s launching this year.
WRPS Chief Mark Crowell mentioned police will evaluate how to address the lack of automated speed enforcement since it was banned provincially last November. Keep it Factual
Add City News Kitchener as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
Source link
