Crime is a pressing issue in Toronto, and the upcoming mayoral election is expected to bring it to the forefront of the debate. The city has seen a significant increase in crime rates in recent years, with 2024 being one of the worst years on record for murder and assault. Despite this, some claim that crime is down, citing statistics that show a decrease from the previous year.
The statistics, however, do not tell the whole story. While it is true that some crime rates have decreased, they are still higher than they were a decade ago. For example, homicides fell from 50 in 2024 to 22 in 2025, but the 2025 rate is still above the 10-year average. The Toronto Police Service tracks a range of crime statistics, including assault, theft, and break and enter, which show that there were 43,000 incidents in 2025, down from 47,000 in 2024, but still above the 10-year average of 39,800 incidents.
Councillor Brad Bradford, who is running for mayor, has made crime and public safety a key priority of his campaign. He plans to hire 1,000 more police officers, phased in over four years, to address the growing population of the city. Toronto has grown by 21% since 2010, but the number of police officers has not kept pace, with only a slight increase from 5,556 to 5,714 officers. This means that there are now fewer officers per capita, with 173 officers per 100,000 residents, down from 208 in 2010.
Bradford's plan is to put more officers on the streets, not behind desks. He believes that the current hiring plan is not enough to keep up with the city's growth, and that more needs to be done to address the issue of crime. The councillor argues that a city that is not safe is not free, and that leadership on crime starts at the top, with the mayor's office. He believes that his plan to hire more officers is a step in the right direction, and that it will help to make the city a safer place for its residents.
The issue of crime is a complex one, and there are no easy solutions. However, Bradford's plan to hire more officers is seen as a positive step by many, and it is likely to be a key issue in the upcoming mayoral election. With the city's population continuing to grow, it is clear that more needs to be done to address the issue of crime, and to ensure that the city remains a safe and vibrant place to live.
