Repeat Offenders Driving Surge in Violence on Public Transit

A surge in violent crime on public transit systems across Canada is being driven by a relatively small number of repeat offenders investigation. In Edmonton alone, police say just 22 per cent of offenders are responsible for nearly half of all transit-related crime.

Exclusive Statistics Canada data shows that violent crime on Edmonton’s transit system more than doubled between 2015 and 2024, with physical assaults increasing by 260 per cent over the same period. While overall crime trends rose more modestly, violence on transit systems in major cities increased at a far sharper rate.

Edmonton Police Service officers say the issue worsened after years of limited enforcement on transit. Acting Sgt. Scott Nolt said police are now trying to regain control, noting that transit peace officers are often restricted by policy and authority limitations. Police patrols now focus heavily on identifying repeat offenders known as “frequent flyers.”

Edmonton police during a December transit patrol where officers arrested three people within 20 minutes, two of whom were already banned from using transit due to previous violent offences. Police estimate nearly 1,000 people are currently banned from Edmonton’s transit system, most for serious crimes including assault, robbery and weapons offences.

One high-profile case involved Ben Mazor, who was violently assaulted on an Edmonton LRT train in 2023 by a repeat offender. The attacker was later convicted and jailed, but has since pleaded guilty to another assault, highlighting ongoing concerns about repeat violence.

Police data also shows that the Coliseum LRT station has been the city’s biggest hotspot, with nearly 300 violent incidents reported between 2018 and 2024. While violent crime rates peaked in 2023 and have slightly declined, they remain well above pre-pandemic levels.

Experts and officials say policing alone is not enough. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack has emphasized expanding shelter and warming spaces to reduce the number of vulnerable people using transit stations for shelter, while Alberta has funded additional police officers to improve safety.

At the federal level, proposed bail reforms aim to impose stricter conditions on repeat violent offenders, but some victims argue incarceration alone is not the solution. Mazor said his attacker needed rehabilitation and addiction treatment rather than just jail time, pointing to broader social issues contributing to transit violence.