Laurier Community Survey Results[43]

Hamilton Police Service has released the results of its 2025 Hamilton Community Safety Survey, capturing residents’ views on safety across the city. The survey, which was funded by Hamilton Police Service and conducted by Wilfrid Laurier University, highlights important insights about perceptions of crime and safety in Hamilton and pathways for improvements. 

While overall crime in Hamilton has decreased in several key categories, the survey findings indicate that many residents report concerns about social disorder, open drug use, and property crime. Respondents noted that visible police presence and community engagement improve feelings of safety—demonstrating that perceptions are shaped not only by crime rates, but also by day-to-day experiences in public spaces.

The survey had 1245 respondents and was conducted between January-April 2025. Researchers asked residents about their perceptions and experiences with crime across Hamilton. 

Key findings include:

• Respondents identified Area 1 (as per survey map) as the area with the highest perception of safety, citing its rural character, low population density, and stronger police visibility.
• Respondents identified Area 6 (as per survey map) as the area with the lowest perception of safety and cited concerns related to visible homelessness, solicitation, and drug use.
• Respondents highlighted the importance of addressing issues like homelessness, open drug use, road safety, and violence, which strongly influence their sense of safety and security.
• Results indicate that residents were generally positive about interactions with the police, but raised some concerns about police presence, delayed responses to calls for service and the police’s ability to address increases in drug activity.
• The survey results confirm that perceptions of safety and crime statistics must be considered together in order to fully understand and respond to community concerns.

“These results reinforce what we hear from the community: crime rates matter, but so does how safe people feel,” said Chief Bergen. “When residents and businesses see officers engaging and responding to issues that affect daily life, their sense of safety improves—even if crime statistics alone don’t tell the whole story.”

Hamilton Police will use the survey findings to guide ongoing deployment strategies and community engagement initiatives. It will also inform the development of the 2027-2030 Strategic Plan. The Service will continue balancing data-driven enforcement with proactive, community-focused policing to strengthen both actual safety outcomes and perceptions of safety across the city.

Click here to view the results of the 2025 Hamilton Community Safety Survey.