Excalibur presents an exclusive interview with a Toronto police veteran
News Department
Contributor
When it comes to crime in The Village, Inspector Randy Carter of Toronto police’s 31 Division (York University is under 31 Division’s jurisdiction) has seen his fair share.
From robberies to murder, Carter has been witness to many of the crimes York students are most concerned about when walking the streets of York’s Village late at night.
Excalibur sat down with Carter, notorious for breaking up some of Toronto’s largest gangs in law enforcement, to ask some of the most pertinent questions on student’s minds.
Q: From your perspective, what can make our campus and the Village safer?
Jerome, exchange student
A: There was a CBC story done recently on safety, and we have heard students say, “We never see the police.” Seeing police is a deterrent for crime, so that’s happening much more now. I’m now focusing more resources in that area. We are now there not only when you call us but ahead of time.
Students are saying that it must be unsafe because [they] see the police there all the time and they think there must be something wrong, [but] we are there more now because we want to pay extra attention in that area. Us [being] there does not mean necessarily that there is crime on the go. It means that the students have asked for us to be there for them more.
Q: Can you suggest some helpful tips for students so we won’t end up as a statistic?
Ravi, biology major
A: Situational awareness. Recognize who’s around there and what they’re doing. We get sexual assault, assault, and theft calls, and we are focusing on reducing those. We ask students if they can partner with us by trying not to advertise [that they have on them] expensive electronic equipment like laptops, iPods, iPads. Some mischief makers target the campus because it’s a rich environment.
Q: Is it true that if campus security sees someone committing a crime that they can’t arrest them? Can you comment on the relationship between the police and campus security?
Malcolm, engineering student
A: Security is an arm of York University. They have powers similar to most citizens with additional training and equipment. They can arrest someone and hold them until the police arrive. They have the extra power of enforcing the Trespass Act, which also incorporates acts which prohibit certain activities on the private property grounds on university. Campus security can also catch trespassing non-students and escort them out. You will see us operate more hand-in-hand with campus security and through them, we also gather intelligence. We impart our experience to them and we ourselves are walking and learning the campus better.
Q: What strategy is your force using to ramp up safety around the Village?
Tara, psychology major
A: Creating awareness. We’re serving notices to criminals who come around campus that they will be held accountable. After they’re charged, you will see some signage that will show that they have been arrested and prosecuted around university.
Q: A troubling number of students expressed to me they don’t feel safe walking the Village at night [because of] the crime. What can be done from a policing standpoint to mitigate this risk?
Anonymous
A: Number one: increased police presence there. Two: we have a partnership with York. Recently, we have met with the president of York and the director of Security Services to work together. Driving down the sexual assaults and crimes is a combined effort. Toronto police are also involved in parents day, orientations, and have popular literature creating awareness on campus. We are doing all of this for you to feel safer. We have police officers whose children attend York […] so as much as the public holds us to account, our own officers also hold us to account.
Q: What is the root of crime occurrences in the Village?
Amina, history major
A: Crime is founded on opportunity. Many students are new to an area where not far is a neighborhood which does not share the same economic status as [a] campus. The area is densely populated, [and] there’s very expensive electronic equipment in an area where lots of people are going in and out, especially in the dorms. Many students come from backgrounds where they actually trust the person beside them. Many students think nothing of leaving there room for a short period to break for the washroom or laundry and come back to discover their equipment gone. All this creates a rich environment for someone who wants to take advantage. When there’s an opportunity, there’s an increase in crime.
There are some areas around the university that gives us greater challenges then others. There are people whose life work is to see you as an opportunity in these areas, and anyone can walk into campus. Lastly, when it come to the assaults that are sexual in nature, you have a lot of young people that are enjoying themselves and experiencing life, much like we all did. Sometimes that, mixed with alcohol, can allow them to be in environments where it becomes a rich opportunity for those who [engage] in crime.
Q: What kind of things can a female student do to decrease her chance of becoming a victim?
Primjeet, law student
A: Trust your judgement and feelings. If you don’t feel safe getting into the back of a particular car, then don’t get in that car. We have outlined areas of concern to the university which should help. Are you in a lit area? Do you know where the alarm is? The university has a program where senior students can walk with you if you don’t feel safe. Don’t let your guard down. We provide as many safety precautions as we can to you, but you also have to look
after yourself and think about who you are with.
