Toronto Police open fourth community safety hub at Dufferin Mall

Toronto Police Service opened a community safety hub at Dufferin Mall on Monday in a storefront previously occupied by an ice cream shop, positioned near the mall's busy food court area. The hub is the fourth of its kind in Toronto, joining existing locations at Fairview Mall, Shops at Don Mills, and Lawrence Heights neighbourhood.

Dufferin Grove Neighbourhood Community Officers primarily staff the hub, with additional officers from 11 Division and auxiliary officers supporting outreach and engagement. The space offers residents one-on-one conversations with officers as an alternative to visiting a police station or filing a formal report. Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue said the approach prioritizes relationship-building over process: "We know that presence matters. It matters for preventing and deterring crime, including retail theft. And just as importantly, it matters because every conversation, every familiar face and every opportunity to listen helps build confidence and trust."

The hub takes a hyper-local approach to policing, focusing on crime prevention, fraud and scam awareness, youth and senior safety, theft, personal safety, and referrals to community resources. Superintendent Andrew Ecklund, 11 Division, said in a police release that "building strong relationships with the community is at the heart of effective neighbourhood policing."

Earlier hubs have shown measurable results. Ecklund reported a marked decrease in both crime and reporting of crime at Fairview Mall and Shops at Don Mills since those safety hubs opened, with auto theft down 65 per cent at Fairview Mall. The city has not stated retail theft incidents reported in 11 Division before and after the Dufferin Mall opening.