Longueuil Police Launch Multi-Faceted Campaign to Combat Rising Youth Violence

In response to what authorities describe as a concerning wave of violence involving young people, the Longueuil police service has launched a comprehensive campaign aimed at reversing this troubling trend. The initiative brings together police, educational institutions, community groups, and parents to address the sharp increase in violent incidents among adolescents aged 12 to 17.

Alarming Statistics Prompt Action

At a recent news conference, officials revealed startling data that underscores the urgency of the situation. Between 2021 and 2025, crimes committed by young people in Longueuil territory increased by a staggering 64 percent. Even more concerning, the number of minors implicated in violent crimes jumped by 42 percent during the same period. In 2025 alone, individuals aged 12 to 17 were responsible for 19 percent of all violent crimes in the area, meaning approximately one in five violent offenses was committed by a minor in this age group.

Police Director Patrick Bélanger emphasized that this crisis requires collective action beyond traditional law enforcement approaches. "The safety of our young people requires collective action," Bélanger stated. "Parents, young people themselves, and our partners have to work together to protect and guide adolescents on our territory."

Multi-Pronged Strategy Implementation

The police campaign incorporates several key components designed to address youth violence from multiple angles:

Increased Police Presence: Authorities have already intensified patrols around targeted schools and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. The goal is to create a visible deterrent and respond quickly to potential incidents.
Targeted Interventions: Police will focus on high-risk sectors and expand the Groupe Contact pilot program, which provides psychosocial support to young people who have begun engaging in delinquent behavior and their families.
Collaborative Planning: The Stratégie Jeunesse program will bring together representatives from school, community, and institutional networks to develop coordinated strategies for addressing youth violence.

Educational and Community Partnerships

The Marie-Victorin school service centre has committed significant resources to complement police efforts. Their approach includes:

Enhanced surveillance and security measures in specific educational establishments
Improved identification of at-risk students and implementation of targeted guidance programs
Expansion of psychosocial services for students identified as vulnerable to involvement in violence
Individualized follow-up with students and their families, including alternative education options when necessary to prevent dropouts

Gaëlle Absolonne, executive director of the Marie-Victorin service centre, stressed the importance of this collaborative effort. "These events call for a strong collective response," Absolonne said. "The safety and well-being of our students remains our absolute priority."

Community-Based Support Systems

The youth community centre "Maison des jeunes L'Escalier en mon temps" will play a crucial role in the campaign by significantly increasing its hours of operation and ensuring a proactive presence of intervenors in locations frequented by young people. These include parks, schools, public gathering spaces, and other targeted sectors.

Stéphanie Villarroel, coordinator of the youth centre, acknowledged the organization's awareness of the rising violence but noted limitations in their current capacity. "The will is there, the mobilization is strong, the commitment is total and the projects are ready to go," Villarroel explained. "Everything is in place to take concrete action: all that is missing is one thing: the essential financial support to protect young people and ensure the sustainability of our actions."

The centre will focus on building sustained trust relationships through informal approaches, early identification of vulnerable situations, and recognition of risk factors before they escalate into violence.

Parental Involvement and Prevention

A critical component of the campaign involves engaging parents of at-risk youth. Authorities are calling on parents to actively monitor, guide, and support their children while maintaining regular communication with schools and police services. This information-sharing approach aims to enhance crime prevention efforts and provide early intervention when warning signs appear.

The comprehensive nature of this campaign reflects a growing recognition that addressing youth violence requires more than traditional policing methods. By combining law enforcement, educational support, community engagement, and family involvement, Longueuil authorities hope to create safer environments for all young people while addressing the root causes of violent behavior among a minority of adolescents.