Hamilton police report 14 per cent annual increase in use of force

According to the Hamilton Police Service’s annual use of force report, 303 interactions with the public resulted in police using physical force during 2024 – a 14 per cent uptick from 2023.

Of the 303 reported incidents in 2024, nine were connected to complaints of excessive force. Police say that none of the allegations were substantiated.

The report noted that 2024 was a unique year for gun violence in Hamilton, with a record-breaking number of shootings. Officers say they dealt with more members of the public who were believed to be armed.

“Last year marked the highest number of shootings we’ve seen to date,” Chief Frank Bergen said.

“This troubling rise – combined with an increase in weapons-related calls – adds significant risk and complexity to the high-stakes situations our officers face.”

In 2022, police interacted with 191 people who were believed to be carrying some kind of weapon. In 2024, that number jumped to 310 – with 240 involving reports of firearms. It is important to note that a perceived weapon does not guarantee the presence of an actual weapon, but an officer’s belief that there may be a weapon can alter their decision on whether or not to use force.

Despite the year-over-year increase, use of force was reported in less than one per cent of interactions with the public.

In 2024, police had 203,627 public contacts. With 303 of those incidents resulting in physical force, that’s 0.15 per cent of all public interactions.

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