Analysis of Security Incidents in 2014: York University Keele Campus

York University’s Keele Campus is an educational facility of over 50 000 students, not including the faculty members, staff, temporary workers, visitors and the Toronto civilians living within the student residential area called ‘The Village’. Each of these groups is exposed to the threat of crime from minor harassment to theft and more major crimes like assault whether they are studying in the Scott Library, parents attending a tour with their children or walking to their home in ‘The Village’. In 2014, thefts totalled 255 and between 2013 and 2014 there were 38 incidents of assault (York University Security Services, 2014). These numbers are appalling for an educational facility and public space where students have the right to practice education in a safe environment without the fear of physical or emotional harm. Students should not have to constantly feel physically guarded around the community in which they hope to learn and develop in, nor should they feel mistrust. To help community members feel safe on campus, this project aims to provide a spatial analysis of the security incidents that occurred in 2014 at the Keele Campus, in order to identify areas of high risk for each type of incident so these can be improved on to create a long-lasting solution for future generations that set foot on the campus.