Hamilton Police Service Newsroom

Hamilton Community Safety Survey Launches in Hamilton

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:22:00 -0500

Hamilton Police Service, in collaboration with Wilfrid Laurier University, is launching a new survey to gather residents’ perceptions of safety in Hamilton. The survey aims to provide valuable insights into safety concerns across Hamilton, guiding future initiatives to enhance community safety and well-being.

“This survey is an important opportunity for residents to share their experiences and help shape a safer Hamilton for everyone,” said Chief Frank Bergen. “Your input will directly contribute to evidence-based strategies and programs designed to address safety concerns and improve quality of life in our community.”

Key Details about the Survey:

Who Can Participate? All residents of Hamilton are encouraged to participate.
How to Access the Survey? Visit online. Laurier students will also be conducting surveys door to door and throughout the community.
Confidentiality: Participation is anonymous, and all responses will remain confidential.
Duration: The survey will be open until March 31.

The survey, developed and administered by researchers at Wilfrid Laurier University, will explore a range of topics, including perceptions of neighborhood safety, experiences with crime, and confidence in community resources. The findings will be used to identify safety gaps, inform policy, and support ongoing collaboration between the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Police Service, and community stakeholders.

“We are committed to ensuring every voice is heard,” said Dr. Tarah Hodgkinson. “The diversity of perspectives from Hamilton’s residents will allow us to better understand safety concerns and work together on solutions that benefit the entire community.”

How to Participate:
Residents can complete the survey online or by scanning the QR code. Students will also be going door to door in neighbourhoods and will identify themselves.

For more information about the survey or to request assistance with participation, please contact Dr. Tarah Hodgkinson at thodgkinson@wlu.ca or 1-548-889-4323.

Join us in creating a safer Hamilton—your voice matters!

Hamilton Police Seeking 2S and LGBTQIA Community Nominations for Facilitators

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:43:00 -0400

Hamilton Police are calling on the Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA community to help select a facilitator to lead future meetings with Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA communities.

In June 2020, Scott Bergman presented the results of a report commissioned by the Hamilton Police Service Board investigating the events that took place at Pride 2019 and the harm that was caused to community. Hamilton Police Service accepted all 38 recommendations of the Bergman Report and began to implement those that fell solely to the Service. Three of the recommendations directed Hamilton Police to gather the input of Hamilton's Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA communities as part of the engagement process with community. These recommendations were:

Recommendation 25—The HPS should retain a third-party facilitator or mediator from a list provided by community members to facilitate future community meetings moving forward.

Recommendation 26— The HPS should consider holding larger town hall meetings to review their action plan, ‘The Way Forward’.

Recommendation 27— The HPS should consult with the community to determine if and when it may be appropriate to recreate a community task force/advisory committee

Hamilton Police are moving forward on Recommendation 25 to identify a third-party facilitator for future community meetings. A recent survey https://bit.ly/3NIoxa3 by McMaster University invited Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA communities to identify the skills and qualifications needed for a facilitator. The survey identified the following criteria:

· Must be a member of the Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA community
· Independent
· Politically neutral~
· Unbiased
· Should not be affiliated with the Hamilton Police Service
· Knowledgeable about the issue and challenges faced by Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA Hamiltonians
· Must understand historical oppression of marginalized groups by police
· Previous experience working with Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA community organizations and/or with other marginalized communities
· Understand appropriate language usage~
· Skilled in trauma informed practices

Hamilton Police Service invites members of the Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA community to submit names of facilitators based on the criteria identified above. The survey will be open from April 1, 2022 until April 22, 2022 and is available at Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA Facilitator Nominations. https://surveyhero.com/c/sm9ygmah

Individuals suggested by the community will receive a package with detailed information on next steps, budget, scope and timelines.

Hamilton Police Partner with McMaster to Survey Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ Community

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:38:00 -0400

Hamilton Police have launched a Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ Engagement Survey, in partnership with McMaster University, to help inform the selection of a suitable facilitator to lead ongoing conversations between police and Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities.

To ensure that community members feel safe to respond honestly to questions about community engagement with police, Dr.Tina Fetner, the Chair of the Department of Sociology, will lead the survey administration and compile a thematic analysis of the findings. These results will be shared with Hamilton Police.

“We’ve listened to the community and understand that trust has been lost with Hamilton’s Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities,” says Chief Frank Bergen. “That’s why it is imperative to involve the community in the selection of a facilitator so we can begin the conversation on how to move forward.”

Dr. Fetner's team will act as an independent third party survey administrator, which aims to incorporate the voice of Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ community members.

The survey is confidential and anonymous to ensure that respondents feel safe to share their thoughts. Hamilton Police will only be provided with a final report outlining the thematic analysis.

“This is an important survey and we encourage everyone in Hamilton’s Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities to participate. A genuine process for dialogue and healing must be transparent, safe for participants to speak freely, and inclusive of diverse perspectives and intersections,” says Bergen.

Anyone who is over 18-years-old and a member of the Two-Spirit and/or LGBTQIA+ community in Hamilton is eligible to participate in this survey. This survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete. It inquires about the qualities of a strong facilitator, key issues Hamilton Police should address, and what healing and trust-building with the Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ community should look like.

The survey will run until September 30 and can be accessed online at https://tinyurl.com/hamiltonpolicesurvey.