The London Police Service (LPS) saw a stable rate of officers using force in 2025 compared to the previous year, with Tasers becoming more prevalent in de-escalation efforts, according to newly released data.
In a recent presentation to the London Police Service Board, an annual report detailed the frequency, reasons, and locations of force used by officers in 2025. The report revealed an increase in the filing of 368 use-of-force reports last year, up from 337 in 2024.
London police Insp. Angela Johnson highlighted that while the number of use-of-force reports rose by approximately eight percent, the proportion of service calls resulting in such reports remained largely consistent. In 2025, police responded to 71,036 service calls, compared to 67,938 in 2024, with use-of-force reports filed in 0.46 percent of calls last year, marginally higher than the 0.45 percent in the preceding year.
The report indicated that force was used against 477 individuals in 330 separate incidents, with some cases involving multiple officers. Johnson noted that officers attempted de-escalation before resorting to force 91 percent of the time in 2025, up from 86 percent in 2024.
Additionally, 21 use-of-force reports were also filed concerning animals.
According to Ontario regulations, officers are mandated to complete a use-of-force report when actions such as drawing a handgun, pointing a firearm, discharging a firearm, using a weapon, displaying a Taser to gain compliance, or using force resulting in treatable injuries occur.
The report highlighted that the majority of individuals subjected to force in 2025 were believed to have access to weapons, with a significant portion involving the belief that the subject had access to a handgun. The highest number of reports stemmed from weapons-related calls, with Tasers, handguns, and rifles commonly used in incidents involving weapons and warrant executions.
Race-related data showed that incidents involving individuals perceived as Caucasian comprised 61 percent, Middle Eastern individuals accounted for 11 percent, Black individuals for 14 percent, and Indigenous individuals for eight percent of those subjected to force. Notably, downtown and Old East Village areas continued to be prominent locations where force incidents were reported.
The complete report can be accessed here.