Montreal Police Identify Alarming Trend of Younger Teens in Criminal Activity
Montreal's police force has revealed a concerning development in the city's crime landscape: youth are becoming involved in criminal activities at significantly younger ages than in previous years. While overall crime statistics show Montreal remains a relatively safe urban center, this shift in youth behavior has prompted police to prioritize intervention and prevention strategies for 2026.
Decreasing Age of Criminal Involvement
During the presentation of the Montreal police force's (SPVM) 2025 summary and 2026 goals, specialized services director David Bertrand highlighted this troubling pattern. "What we're seeing now is a decrease in the age that young people move toward criminal action," Bertrand stated on Tuesday. Traditionally, police have observed teens entering criminal circles between 16 and 18 years old, but current encounters involve children as young as 14 or 15.
Bertrand explained that many of these criminal acts occur "behind screens," citing an example of a 14-year-old who allegedly passed commands within a criminal organization. He noted that young participants often expect financial gain from these activities, but "often, the money isn't there at the meeting. The risk of injury is there and the risk of arrest is there."
Police Priorities and Community Approach
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher emphasized that preventing youth crime represents one of the force's top priorities for the coming year. "We're going to pay very particular attention to youth this year," Dagher declared, while clarifying that the police force would not take sole leadership on this issue. Instead, they would collaborate with other organizations to address the root causes.
Dagher was careful to specify that this focus applies to a small percentage of Montreal's youth population. "When we talk about youth, I'm not talking about all the young people in Montreal. I'm talking about four to five per cent," he clarified. The police chief also outlined broader goals for 2026, including strengthening community connections and improving responses to mental health crises and homelessness.
Montreal's Overall Crime Context
Despite concerns about youth crime trends, Dagher maintained that Montreal continues to be a relatively safe city. Police recorded 31 homicides in 2025, consistent with 2023's numbers and slightly lower than 2024's 32 homicides. The Montreal area's murder rate of 1.24 per 100,000 residents in 2024 positions the city among North America's safest urban centers.
Comparative data shows that several major Canadian cities had higher homicide rates than Montreal in 2024:
- Toronto
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Ottawa-Gatineau
- Winnipeg
Only Vancouver and Quebec City recorded fewer murders per capita. Statistics Canada has not yet released official homicide data for 2025.
Perception Versus Reality in Public Safety
Chief Dagher acknowledged a growing "perception of insecurity" among Montreal residents, despite favorable crime statistics. "People who walk in the streets, who go into the métro... feel that there's a sort of feeling of insecurity, that all sorts of things could happen around them," he observed, noting that this includes concerns about outbursts related to mental health crises.
However, Dagher contrasted this perception with actual crime trends: "That's still real, it's present. But when we look at our statistics, our events, frankly... it's going much, much better." He pointed to significant improvements in gun violence, recalling that "four years ago, we had shootings in Montreal every two, three days. Now, we have almost none." This represents substantial progress from 2022, when homicides spiked to 41—the highest number in over a decade.
Addressing Homelessness and Community Engagement
With Montreal increasing its homelessness budget, both city administration and police are focusing on coordinated responses to this ongoing crisis. Local services director Cédric Couture explained that police would enhance contact with unhoused individuals through increased foot and bicycle patrols, aiming to build trust and provide appropriate support services.
The Montreal police force's dual approach—addressing specific concerns about youth crime while maintaining perspective on overall safety improvements—reflects their commitment to evidence-based policing and community collaboration in creating a secure urban environment for all residents.
