The number of assaults reported inside the metro system in Montreal increased by 15 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to newly released data from the Montreal Police Service.
Police recorded 726 assault cases in 2025, up from 631 in 2024 and 652 in 2023. Authorities say the overall rise was largely driven by a sharp spike in incidents during January 2025, though the exact cause of that increase remains unclear.
“I don’t have a very precise explanation for the increase, other than it was really concentrated in January,” Cmdr. Angélique Beaudet said in an interview Wednesday. She added that reported cases for the remainder of the year were generally stable.
The 2025 total marks the highest number of assault reports since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when ridership dropped significantly due to public health restrictions. Police cautioned that figures from before 2020 were compiled using a different methodology and cannot be directly compared with more recent data.
Transit officials have raised concerns about the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders and mental health challenges who seek refuge in metro stations. In June, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) reinstated a no-loitering rule in subway tunnels. The transit authority said the measure, first introduced as a pilot project earlier in the year, contributed to a reduction in assaults against staff and improved riders’ sense of safety.
However, Beaudet stressed that the presence of marginalized individuals in the system does not automatically translate to criminal behaviour. She noted that many reported assaults involve individuals who are acquainted with one another.
Assault cases can include actions such as spitting, pushing, punching or kicking, according to police.
In a statement released Wednesday, the STM said it continues to work closely with law enforcement to maintain safety across the network.
Despite the rise in reported incidents, Beaudet emphasized that the metro remains a secure mode of transportation for the vast majority of users.
“Unfortunately, there are a few throughout the year,” she said, referring to assault cases. “But they remain isolated.”
