Niagara's police chief giving credit to investment in policing for a reduction in overall crime in the region.
The police services board was told yesterday Niagara's crime severity index dropped 11.7% last year.
Chief Bill Fordy says this doesn't happen overnight. "It represents an acknowledgement of the investment by the board and the region, and helping us resource our units appropriately, and having enough members on the road to response to calls for service in a timely manner."
The report shows while assaults and sexual offences rose, they were offset by fewer robberies and murders.
Crime Analysis Manager Chantal Constant added there were 15 homicides in 2024, last year there were 8. "Robberies went from 207 to 165. Break and enter offences we went from 1,254 in 2024, to 1,032 in 2025, which more than offset the increase in the higher volume offences such as assault."
Of Ontario's 12 major police forces, Niagara ranks 5th lowest for crime.
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