Toronto, November 6, 2025 — Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced significant progress in community safety during a public safety forum held in Scarborough North, highlighting the city’s continued investments and results in crime prevention.
According to the latest data, major crimes across Toronto have shown a clear decline: shootings are down 43.1%, auto thefts dropped 31%, break-ins fell 12.5%, and robberies decreased 16.2%. Since Mayor Chow took office in October 2023, the average police response time to emergencies has been reduced by 70%.
“These figures demonstrate that our sustained investments in community safety are paying off,” said Mayor Chow.
Supported by the 2025 City Budget, the Toronto Police Service launched a Multi-Year Hiring Plan, adding 720 officers over the past two years and 90 new 911 call-takers this year. The force has also expanded its community policing program and hired multilingual officers to strengthen engagement with Toronto’s diverse communities, including the Chinese community.
Starting November 15, the city will deploy Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) teams across major TTC Line 1 “U-shaped” subway stations to respond swiftly to incidents and ensure passenger safety. An additional $5 million has been invested in youth violence prevention programs, and 31 Toronto Public Library branches have opened youth activity centres to provide safe, supportive spaces for young people.
“Community safety remains our top priority,” said 42 Division Superintendent LeeAnn Papizewski. “We’ve seen a notable drop in crime across the city, and residents are feeling more secure.”
Councillor Jamaal Myers, Chair of the TTC, added, “The decrease in major crimes shows that our community-centered safety strategy is working.”
Mayor Chow concluded, “We are building a safer, more resilient city. By expanding our front-line response teams, we will ensure that Torontonians receive help when they need it most.”（LJI by Rita)
