NRPS Releases Results of 2026 Community Safety Survey

The Niagara Police Service Board and the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) are releasing the results of the 2026 Community Safety Survey, establishing a baseline for measuring community perceptions throughout the implementation of the Niagara Police Service Board’s 2026 - 2029 Strategic Plan.

The survey received 2,313 responses from people who live, work, attend school or regularly spend time in Niagara.  Participants were asked about community safety, local concerns, police visibility, confidence in policing and their experiences with the NRPS.

The findings show that approximately 69% of respondents feel safe or very safe in their own neighbourhoods.  When considering Niagara overall, approximately 45% feel safe or very safe, while 64% believe community safety has worsened during the past year.

Feedback from respondents who recently interacted with NRPS was generally positive:

·         Approximately 75% reported being treated professionally.

·         Approximately 73% reported being treated with respect.

·         Approximately 66% reported feeling listened to.

Ratings were lower for service-delivery measures, with 57% reporting experiencing a reasonable response time, 53% reporting that they understood what would happen next, and 48% reporting that they received the support they needed.  Police visibility and safety in certain public environments, particularly downtown areas, were also identified as areas requiring continued attention.

The NRPS recognizes that not every interaction met the needs or expectations of the person involved.  Feedback related to response time, support, follow-up and understanding the next steps identifies opportunities to improve how people experience and navigate police services.

“The survey provides valuable insight into what people across Niagara are experiencing and what they expect from their police service,” said Chief of Police Bill Fordy.  “We are encouraged that recent interactions with our members were generally rated positively for professionalism and respect.  We also recognize that the concerns reflected in the results represent real experiences and expectations.  Not every interaction met the needs of the person involved, and this feedback will help us identify where service delivery and communication can be strengthened.” 

“We would like to sincerely thank every resident who took the time to share their experiences, concerns, and hopes for safety in Niagara” said Police Service Board Chair Nyarayi Kapisavanhu.  “What we heard will help us shape how we move forward.  Community safety is a shared responsibility; we will now bring those voices to the table to help us translate our Strategic Plan priorities on community safety into meaningful action for the community we serve.”

The results will be considered alongside crime trends, calls for service, response times, workload, and other operational and performance information.  They will help inform Strategic Plan initiatives related to neighbourhood presence, safer public spaces, evidence-informed police visibility, community partnerships and service delivery.

The complete 2026 Community Safety Survey report is available at www.niagarapolice.ca/2026communitysafetysurveyresults

The survey was a voluntary community consultation and was not a probability-based random survey.  The findings reflect the experiences and perceptions of participating respondents and should not be interpreted as representative of every person in Niagara.  The NRPS also recognizes that some communities and perspectives may not be fully reflected in the results and will continue to engage with communities as the work moves forward.

Building a safer Niagara starts with listening.  The Niagara Police Service Board and the Niagara Regional Police Service will continue to monitor progress and report back throughout the implementation of the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan.