Hit the Cops Lock: Say No to a Bigger Police Force, Say Yes to a Safe and Just Toronto
We are demanding a multiyear vision for the Toronto Police Service that:
- reduces the size of the police force and shift those resources to communities, municipal services, specialized civilian response teams
- redirects time and funding away from police visibility projects [like Project Magnify], and towards community wellness services & education to increase community safety
There are safe and just alternatives to investing in the police.
We want to see a Toronto where anyone who needs support of any kind can receive it and feel safe knowing they will not face violence, or the barrel of a police gun because of the colour of their skin.
It is crucial that the city redirects funds to housing, to mental health supports, to harm reduction services, to youth outreach, and other services that will support people in crisis, not criminalise them.
More police officers will not make our city safer or healthier.
The police are currently doing tasks that they should not be doing. The police budget is being used to increase surveillance of peaceful demonstrations; to respond to bylaw complaints; to fund mounted police officers; to clear encampments; to respond to complaints about youth and people on the street; to address mental health and addiction crises.
Increasing police presence and budget to address these issues puts civilians, especially racialized and poor communities, at risk of increased police violence and surveillance.
The multi-year staffing plan must reflect a reduced police force and a city that prioritises investing in community-focused, preventative, and civilian services.
Add your name to urge councillors to take urgent action so that services in Toronto are performed by people best positioned to do them, not by police.
