Metro Vancouver transit crimes down 8 per cent from last year: police

Metro Vancouver police say crime rates on transit in the region have dropped compared to the same time last year.

In a report to the TransLink Board of Directors Thursday, the Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) says reported crimes against passengers are down eight per cent, and crimes against TransLink property are down nine per cent.

MVTP Chief Suzanne Muir says she’s proud of the reductions in the volume of reported crime, despite a 4 per cent increase in boarded passengers.

The rates of crime are measured per 100,000 passengers, meaning increased ridership may directly account for the apparent decrease. 

But Muir credits some of the change to the greater presence of officers on board and training that has led to a 38 per cent increase in “apprehensions” of people experiencing mental health crises.

She said transit police have been asking how to improve their approach in mental health crisis scenarios to avoid crimes and arrests. 

“[We’re asking] how do we, when we are dealing with persons who may be dealing with mental health-related concerns, how do we put them into a different stream? Away from [the scene] and use the proper resources? And that’s exactly what we’re continuing to do.”

The board also reported that 12 assaults against transit operators were recorded in 2024, down from 15 in 2023.