A request for access to information made by The Sun demonstrates a marked increase in police interventions in schools. Armed assault, vehicle theft, sexual offenses: many crimes committed by students are the subject of complaints to the police.
In 2019, the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) recorded 387 interventions in secondary schools located on its territory. In 2023, this figure increased to 1581. This is an increase of 308.53%.
This upward trend is also reflected elsewhere in the region, according to data from the Sûreté du Québec and the Service de police de la Ville de Lévis (SPVL).
Not all interventions recorded necessarily represent a crime committed. They rather refer to file openings, mainly carried out by training police officers, explains Pierre-Olivier Lévesque, spokesperson for the SPVQ.
“In recent years, the working methodology of police training officers has been called upon to change. They must open calling cards when they come to schools.”
These calling cards are often of the type: person information and/or person verification. The category can bring together a variety of files, including a meeting with a young person or with management.
166 visits
The two schools most visited by police officers in 2023 are located in the northern suburbs of Quebec. These are the Roger-Comtois school and the Le Sommet school.
Note that the SPVQ data was not weighted proportionally to the clientele. Some establishments have more students than others. The ranking of Soleil has been compiled for informational purposes only.
In Roger-Comtois, 94 interventions recorded in 2023 are classified in the “Information on the person” category. The SPVQ also intervened at this location for six cases of disorder, two cases of extortion, three intoxicated people and two cases of sexual assault.
Called to comment on this data, the Capital School Services Center, which supervises the Roger-Comtois school, is stingy with comments. He simply mentions that this school “is among those which welcome the greatest number of students” within the school service center.
“The presence of police officers in our schools helps maintain a safe environment and build relationships of trust with our students.”
— Capital School Service Center
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No more denunciations
In 2023, the SPVQ intervened in 38 cases of sexual assault in Quebec secondary schools. In 2019, barely 6 files were opened.
Threat files also exploded between 2019 and 2023, going from 35 to 92. The growing use of social networks by young people could have contributed to the increase in this type of crime.
“The accessibility to reporting situations and the constant presence of police officers in schools encourages the opening of files and the filing of complaints,” says Pierre-Olivier Lévesque.
In addition, young people are much more aware of reporting situations “because of the numerous conferences given and also thanks to the referral made by school staff.”
Carole Dupré, president and CEO of the Fédération des centers de services scolaire du Québec, is of the same opinion.
“We can think that the increase in the number of interventions is linked to a better culture of denunciation by witnesses and victims. They have more confidence because of rapid handling of situations,” she believes.
She adds that more and more students and younger people are active on social media. According to the education dashboard, the youth sector’s clientele increased from 1,371,790 in 2020 to 1,459,458 in 2024.
“Schools must remain caring, healthy and safe places. To achieve this, our collective duty is to work to prevent violence.”
— Carole Dupré, President and CEO of the Federation of School Service Centers of Quebec
THE LEAST VISITED SCHOOLS IN 2023
- Phare secondary school: 3 interventions
- École des Sentiers: 17 interventions
- La Cité secondary school: 22 interventions
- Camaradière secondary school: 23 interventions
- Cardinal-Roy secondary school: 33 interventions
- Odyssey secondary school: 47 interventions
- Samuel-De Champlain School: 53 interventions
- School of Pioneers: 63 interventions
- Vanier Secondary School: 65 interventions
- École de la Seigneurie: 69 interventions
*Other schools located in the territory of Quebec City were not included in the SPVQ statistics.
Note: These figures were obtained under a Freedom of Information request sent on May 22, 2024. At that time, the last full year was 2023 and data for 2024 had not yet been compiled. The SPVQ’s response was sent on December 19, 2024, almost seven months later.
