The Laval police service (SPL) says it is taking steps to curb violent crime among youth as the summer season approaches amid a rise in minors getting caught up in gun crime. In the first quarter of 2025, more than 40 per cent of armed violence cases involved minors between the ages of 14 and 17, the police force announced Thursday. Between Jan. 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, 20 per cent of people arrested or suspected in cases of firearms-related incidents involved minors and the backdrop of most of these cases is conflicts between criminal gangs. “Over the past few years, our police department has made the fight against gun-related urban violence a priority, in response to a marked upsurge in events in Laval,” said Karine Ménard, the SPL deputy director in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division, in a news release. “It’s a fact that this phenomenon evolves and remains unpredictable. Nevertheless, we are firmly convinced that our approach, based on information gathering, vigilance, increased presence in the field and prevention, is the right strategy to adopt.” After recording a rise in firearm discharge incidents last year (25 events), Laval police said so far there has been a modest decrease in the first four months of 2025. As of March 31, there were four discharge events recorded, compared to six events by the same date in 2024. Officers, including bike patrols, will be on the ground this summer with a focus on tackling urban violence. Patrol officers will also be tasked with monitoring compliance with release conditions, and the force will also partner with youth centres and the youth protection office to monitor at-risk youth. The SPL is also reminding the public that they can report crime in their neighbourhood by calling their confidential hotline 450-662-INFO (4636) or call 911.
