Hamilton residents feel unsafe, even as crime levels improve, summit hears

The severity of crime in Hamilton is going down, along with the number of shootings, but residents continue to feel on edge and unsafe, says police Chief Frank Bergen. 

“We can statistically tell you that the crime severity index in the city is going in the right direction, but the perception of safety is not there,” Bergen said at a community safety summit Monday. 

“So we cannot rest on our laurels.” 

He attended the summit initiated by Mayor Andrea Horwath, alongside other police officers, paramedics, business owners, residents, service providers, city staff and elected officials. 

The goal was to bring people together to come up with ways to better address safety, said Horwath. The areas discussed were youth crime, hate crime, gun violence and intimate partner violence. 

“What we're hoping to do is to … chart a path forward that creates a safer Hamilton, thereby reducing reliance on police,” she told CBC Hamilton.

The day was part of ongoing work by the city to get feedback from residents. An online survey for those who weren't able to attend is open until Nov. 24.

Evelyn Myrie, a community advocate, moderated part of the day as dozens of small groups discussed what’s working and what’s missing in Hamilton’s current crime prevention system. 

She told CBC Hamilton this isn’t the first event of its kind, but she hopes this one will result in “deeper action.” 

“I’ve been in Hamilton a long time and we’ve had many conversations around tables,” Myrie said. “It’s time to really see the change that’s deserving. You need to create a Hamilton that is welcoming and a safe place for all of us.” 

Hamilton’s crime severity index — which tracks both the amount and seriousness of crime — decreased three per cent from 2023 to 2024. At 58.3, it is similar to other Ontario cities including Toronto, St. Catharines, Guelph and London. 

One of the reasons why Hamilton residents are feeling unsafe is because the crimes that’ve happened in recent years seem to be more brazen, Myrie said.

She pointed to the 2025 deaths of Belinda Sarkodie and Harsimrat Randhawa, innocent bystanders killed by stray bullets while waiting at bus stops. 

“The broad daylight killing is disturbing and causing everyone to fear,” said Myrie, who also serves as president of the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association. “There’s a boldness to it.”