Milton and Halton Hills saw crime fall to its lowest level in five years in 2025, part of a regionwide downswing that pushed Halton’s overall crime rate to a four-year low. The Halton Regional Police Service released its 2025 Annual Report on May 28, showing a 4.8 per cent drop in overall crime compared to the year before.
Across Halton, the crime rate fell to 2,225 incidents per 100,000 residents, the lowest since 2021. In Milton and Halton Hills, the rate was even lower at 1,907 per 100,000, a 4.7 per cent decrease from 2024. The numbers paint a stark contrast to decades past, when Halton’s crime rate topped 6,500 per 100,000 in 1991 and exceeded 8,000 in 1980 and 1981.
Auto theft, which has been a worry for many residents, dropped 22 per cent regionwide, falling from 205 incidents in 2024 to 159 in 2025. That continues a decline from a 2023 peak of 257 thefts. Violent crime also edged down for the third consecutive year, with the number of violent incidents dipping from 348 to 344. Reported sexual assaults reached a five-year low of 21.
Police also solved more cases. The overall clearance rate rose to 35.4 per cent, up from 34.9 per cent in 2024. For violent crimes, the clearance rate climbed to 78.1 per cent. According to Statistics Canada’s weighted clearance measure, Halton ranked fourth among Ontario’s 12 largest police services.
The improved numbers came as officers handled a growing workload. Calls for service rose 3.9 per cent to 149,054, yet crime still fell. One stubborn exception was fraud, which increased for the fourth year in a row, climbing 9.1 per cent to 360 incidents. Police noted a rise in counterfeit currency.
The report arrives amid national jitters about safety; an Angus Reid poll found 62 per cent of Canadians believe crime is rising. Chief Stephen Tanner’s annual report notes that Halton’s crime has been historically low since 2014 — a reality that contrasts with public perception.
