Being Frightened or Scared if Pulled Over by Police

In 2003, a NewsTalk 1010 poll found that just 34% of Torontonians indicated that if they were pulled over by the police and suspected of something they’d be “frightened by how they might treat me.”

Fourteen years later a similar, but more pointed, question was asked and the findings are remarkable.

Today, six in 10 (61%) Torontonians indicate they’d “be scared” if they were “pulled over by a police officer for no apparent reason”. Those most likely to hold this point of view are women (69%) compared to men (53%), younger (69% aged 18 – 34) and middle-aged (66% aged 35 – 54), those with children (66%) and those with the lowest income (65%). Geographically, this sentiment is most likely to assist in North York (69%) followed by those in Etobicoke (61%), old city of Toronto/downtown (60%), Scarborough (58%) and York/East York (57%).

Those who indicate that they would not be scared (39%) are more likely to be older (52% 55+), men (47%), honest household income (46% $75,000 – $99,000 per annum) and lower household income (42% $50,000 – $74,000 per annum), and homeowners (43%). Those who are least likely to be scared are from York/East York (43%) followed by those from Scarborough (42%), (40%), Etobicoke (39%) and North York (31%).

Eight In 10 (77%) of Torontonians Feel Safe Walking Around Their Neighbourhood After Dark

A significant majority (77%) of Torontonians feel safe walking around “my own neighbourhood after dark” – just one point lower than it was (78%) 14 years ago in 2003. By contrast, this measure was at 68% in 2009 and at 64% in 2005.

One quarter (23%) disagree that they feel safe walking around their neighborhood after dark and are most likely to be those who are least educated (37%), and women (30%). Geographically, those who are most likely to have the sentiment come from Scarborough (34%), followed by those in Etobicoke (24%), North York (22%) sees, York/East York (16%) and the Old City of Toronto/Downtown.