City of Montreal hires private security to patrol high-crime areas downtown
“We work with social organization as well. We work with animation also to create more safety feeling to the population,” he said. “So it’s never only a way or our solution.”
The City of Montreal has enlisted private security guards to patrol areas including the Village, Chinatown, and Old Montreal to assist the SPVM in addressing rising incidents of drug-related activity, incivility, and harassment, responding to increased safety concerns from local residents.
Robert Beaudry, Ville-Marie borough city councillor and executive committee member for homelessness, emphasized the urgency of the initiative, saying it will help tackle climbing crime rates directly.
“It was really a way to respond really quickly to that concern of the population and really act on criminality, because there’s no cohabitation on criminality,” he explained, noting that visible security presence can help downtown residents feel safer amid the area’s homelessness challenges.
A recent survey by the Citizens Association of the Village of Montreal revealed that 68.2% of Village residents feel unsafe, and over 66% rate the quality of life as poor or very poor.
Downtown resident Murray Hymson echoed these concerns, stating, “When I go to the CHUM in the morning, I never go along De la Gauchetière early, because it’s horrible. People follow you. They scare you.”
The security guards are not tasked with direct intervention; instead, they will report criminal activities to police and social intervention teams. While some guards will wear uniforms to improve the public’s sense of safety, others will operate undercover.
Jean-Pierre Dansereau, a Village resident, supports this approach, noting that undercover guards might offer a clearer picture of real-time issues. “When the police are so visible, people change their behaviour, so someone who would be more undercover...there would really be a real vision of what’s happening,” he said.
Meanwhile, Magali Blanco, another Village resident, feels personally safe but welcomes added support for others. “I just personally don’t feel threatened, but I’m glad if the city can offer more help to them,” she shared.
Winston Chan, from the Montreal Chinatown Revitalization Committee, also backs the increased security presence, citing prevalent issues in Chinatown including drug trafficking, homelessness, mental health struggles, and addiction, which he says contribute to local crime.
The city launched this $120,000 pilot project in mid-October, set to run for two months before an evaluation to consider any necessary adjustments or additional measures.
Beaudry mentioned that they are working with social services to ensure broader support alongside security.
“We work with social organization as well. We work with animation also to create more safety feeling to the population,” he said. “So it’s never only a way or our solution.”
