Fewer crimes reported on OC Transpo buses, O-Train in 2024

OC Transpo special constables and Ottawa police officers investigated a suspicious package found on board an OC Transpo bus at Tunney's Pasture Station Oct. 13, 2020. (Chris Black / CTV News Ottawa)

There were fewer incidents of crime against people and property on OC Transpo buses and the O-Train last year, according to newly released statistics.

The OC Transpo Special Constables Unit annual report 2024, set to be presented to the Ottawa Police Services Board on Monday, shows there were 20,393 occurrences on public transit in 2024 and 19,858 calls for service for special constables. The number of occurrences was down 0.96 per cent from 2023.

Of the 20,393 occurrences reported in 2024, 8,179 calls were classified as “no offence” and 4,345 calls were for Provincial Offences.

Fifty-five per cent of the incidents were reported on buses, while 36 per cent were reported on the O-Train and 633 incidents on OC Transpo property.

The report says there were 444 occurrences involving crimes against people in 2024, down 13.45 per cent from 2023. OC Transpo special constables responded to 195 calls for Assault-Level 1, 64 incidents of uttering threats to a person, 25 calls for assault with a weapon, 18 calls for passenger assault and 23 calls for sexual assault.

A total of 740 occurrences involving crimes against property were reported last year, down 22.41 per cent from 2024. Staff said there were 250 drug occurrences on public transit last year.

According to the report, 3,693 charges and tickets were issued by special constables on public transit in 2024. A total of 2,924 tickets were issued for fare-related offences, and 480 Provincial Offence tickets were issued. Officers issued 55 charges for crimes against a person and 62 charges for property offences.

OC Transpo Chief Special Const. Peter Scislowski said the new Ontario-Ottawa agreement announced in 2024 provided funding to bolster the special constable staffing level and improve training and equipment.

“This funding has allowed us to reimagine how our Special Constables are deployed, trained, and further strengthened community partnerships,” Scislowski said. “Improvements made in 2024 had a significant and quantifiable impact on public safety across the entire transit system.”

According to the report, 19 special constables and two superintendents were hired last year.

Assaults involving OC Transpo staff

According to the report, OC Transpo special constables responded to dozens of calls for threats and assaults of transit operators.

The report shows there were 16 incidents involving transit operator assault and 11 occurrences involving threats made against an OC Transpo bus driver.

Top violations on OC Transpo

Here is a look at the top violations on OC Transpo.

Crimes against a person

• Assault – Level 1: 195
• Utter threats to person: 64
• Utter Threats – Master code: 29
• Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm: 25
• Assaulting a peace officer: 23
• Sexual assault: 23

Property offences

• Mischief: 375
• Mischief graffiti: 115
• Theft under $5,000: 55
• Theft under $5,000 – bicycles: 34
• Mischief – interfere with lawful use: 22
• Theft under $5,000 – other theft: 19
• Theft under $5,000 – persons: 13

Other Criminal Code of Canada offences

• Disturbing the peace: 952
• Indecent acts: 24
• Possession of weapons: 21
• Offensive weapons – Possession of Weapons: 13
• Indecent acts – other: 12
• Hate or bias motivated incident – non-criminal: 6

Provincial Offences

• Trespass to Property Act: 2,589
• Liquor Licence and Control Act – Having: 385
• Liquor Licence and Control Act – Intoxicated: 157
• Safe Streets Act: 97
• Traffic Complaint – Highway Traffic Act: 67