Increased police presence causes mixed reactions
In late January, a series of violent incidents on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) system occurred in quick succession. On January 23, a woman was pushed down the stairs and robbed at Broadview Station. The next day, another woman was stabbed on a Spadina streetcar, leaving her with life-altering injuries.
On January 25, John Di Nino, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union said that violence on the TTC had reached “crisis levels.” That same day, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed at Old Mill Station, and two TTC workers were chased through Dundas Station.
The TTC is an essential part of life for many Torontonians. In 2020, commuters took over 1.3 million daily trips on it. The University of Toronto is no exception, with a high number of commuter students, and even some living on campus using the TTC to get around.
An increasing fear of violence has shaped the frequency students use transit. First-year Vic student Julia Buczynski told The Strand she has been trying to avoid riding the TTC whenever possible, however she describes it as “an essential part of getting around the city, especially in colder months.”
Rima El Zein, a commuter student, has no choice but to use transit. She told The Strand, “I always feel paranoid when I’m on the subway, and I can tell everyone around me does too.” Long commutes have become even more unpleasant with a growing culture of fear on the TTC.
On January 26, Toronto’s police department announced that they were increasing their presence on the TTC, with over 80 police officers set to patrol the transit system every day. According to Police Chief Myron Demkiw, this is an attempt to prevent “crimes of opportunity,” where the criminal acts are not premeditated. Additionally, the TTC pledged to add more security cameras, as well as outreach workers, supervisors, and uniformed employees.
Premier Doug Ford’s response to the increased security measures was to push for more policing. He described the increase in police officers as a “band-aid solution” and called on the City of Toronto to hire more full-time police officers instead of increasing paid overtime for existing ones.
While some are relieved by an increased police presence, there is no consensus. According to Shelagh Pizey-Allen the director of the advocacy group TTCriders, Black and Indigenous transit users are overrepresented in enforcement actions, and thus “expanding policing is actually going to make some people less safe and also won’t tackle the root of the problem.”
There has been much discussion surrounding the causes of increased violence, but some point to the increase in mental health problems and homelessness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A January report from Rick Leary, the TTC’s CEO, indicates that levels of violence peaked in early 2020 but have yet to decline to pre-pandemic levels.
While the increases in police presence are intended to make TTC riders feel safer, some are still sceptical. Rima feels like they are a short-term solution to the recent violence. According to her, “these instances aren’t happening out of mere coincidence, and the city of Toronto needs to do more for its people—whether that’s students like me or more vulnerable groups.”
