October 23, 2026 | Ontario, Canada

Controlling crime and ensuring public safety remain major election issues in Brampton and Mississauga, Ontario, ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for October 26, 2026.

Public safety featured prominently in previous municipal elections, and questions about vehicle theft, break-ins at homes and businesses, offences involving weapons, road safety and policing have again attracted attention.

However, the latest figures from Peel Regional Police, which serves Brampton and Mississauga, show that the number of offences in several major crime categories has fallen compared with 2023.

Although vehicle thefts, robberies and break-and-enter incidents have declined, increases in other offences, including thefts from vehicles, have kept public safety at the centre of debate.

How crime has changed since 2023

According to Peel Regional Police’s official statistics, vehicle thefts fell from 8,322 in 2023 to 7,231 in 2024 and 5,280 in 2025. This represents a decline of approximately 36.6 per cent over two years.

Homicide occurrences similarly fell from 23 in 2023 to 19 in 2024 and 16 in 2025.

Robberies rose from 833 in 2023 to 997 in 2024 before falling to 830 in 2025.

Break-and-enter incidents totalled 2,842 in 2023, 2,852 in 2024 and 2,815 in 2025. Although this category did not record a substantial decline, there was a small decrease in 2025.

Sexual violations, however, increased from 1,257 in 2023 to 1,353 in both 2024 and 2025. It would therefore be inaccurate to say that every type of crime has been declining continuously.

What happened in the first nine months of 2026?

A comparison of offences recorded between January 1 and September 30, 2026, with the same period in 2025 reveals significant changes.

Vehicle thefts declined from 3,970 in the first nine months of 2025 to 3,547 during the same period in 2026, a decrease of approximately 10.7 per cent.

Robberies fell from 618 to 383, a decline of approximately 38 per cent.

Break-and-enter incidents decreased from 2,098 to 1,521, a reduction of approximately 27.5 per cent.

Recorded sexual violations also declined from 1,120 to 949, a decrease of approximately 15.3 per cent.

Thefts from vehicles, however, increased substantially. There were 2,790 incidents in the first nine months of 2025, compared with 4,064 during the same period in 2026, an increase of approximately 45.7 per cent.

Mischief incidents involving damage to property rose from 3,583 to 3,811, while recorded impaired-driving incidents increased from 702 to 796.

Homicide occurrences rose from nine in the first nine months of 2025 to 11 during the corresponding period in 2026.

These figures show that, despite substantial reductions in some major categories, other offences directly affecting public safety remain a concern.

Why do safety concerns persist when crime declines?

Changes in recorded crime and the sense of safety people experience in everyday life do not always move together.

Even where overall crime has declined, a vehicle theft, home break-in or incident involving weapons in a particular neighbourhood can cause fear among residents.

A family having its vehicle stolen, a home being broken into or a shooting occurring in a residential area can directly affect the sense of security of those involved.

Public concerns about safety therefore cannot be dismissed solely on the basis of statistics showing declines in crime.

At the same time, individual incidents and information circulating on social media alone do not provide a sound basis for concluding that an entire city has become unsafe.

Measures to tackle vehicle theft

Vehicle theft has been a major concern in Brampton and Mississauga in recent years.

Peel Regional Police has been working through specialist investigative units and in cooperation with other police services to address vehicle theft, particularly offences linked to organized criminal groups.

An Ontario government announcement on September 28, 2026, said Peel Regional Police would receive a further CAD $300,000 to support efforts to combat auto theft.

At the time of the announcement, figures showed 2,790 vehicle thefts in Peel during the first six months of 2026, compared with 3,089 during the same period in 2025, a decline of approximately 10 per cent.

The funding is intended to support efforts to identify and disrupt organized groups involved in auto theft, recover stolen vehicles and conduct investigations in cooperation with other police services.

Why safety matters in municipal elections

Public safety is an important local issue as Brampton and Mississauga voters prepare to elect their mayors and councillors.

While investigating offences and arresting offenders are police responsibilities, local governments also play important roles in police funding, community safety initiatives, street lighting, traffic safety and social programmes.

Decisions about funding Peel Regional Police are closely connected with debates over municipal taxation and public spending.

Public safety policy also raises questions about whether increased police funding will improve security and how much emphasis should be placed on prevention measures addressing the social factors that contribute to crime.

What the statistics tell us

Peel Regional Police’s figures cover its policing jurisdiction, which includes both Brampton and Mississauga. The totals therefore cannot be attributed separately to either city.

The statistics for the first nine months of 2026 are also preliminary, unaudited and subject to revision.

The total number of recorded offences should not be confused with a crime rate calculated relative to population. Comparisons between cities must also consider population size, the severity of offences and the types of crimes recorded.

Declines in several major crime categories compared with 2023 reflect changes in public safety conditions across Peel’s policing jurisdiction.

However, increases in thefts from vehicles and some other offences, along with the higher number of homicide occurrences in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, also warrant attention.

As the October 26, 2026, municipal elections approach, debate over the measures needed to prevent crime and improve public safety continues to play an important role in Brampton and Mississauga.

Falling crime numbers are a welcome development, but translating that progress into a sense of security that residents experience in everyday life across all neighbourhoods remains a major challenge for local governments and police.