As Hamilton’s waterfront prepares to welcome the first ships of the new marine season, HOPA Ports and its partners launched a new awareness campaign with a simple, reassuring message: safety on the harbour is a shared responsibility, and awareness plays a key role in keeping it strong.
HOPA Ports, through its Harbour Master’s Office and Port Patrol, has partnered with Crime Stoppers of Hamilton and Hamilton Police Service to launch Crime Doesn’t Anchor Here, a public awareness campaign focused on recognizing and reporting suspicious activity across the Port of Hamilton. Timed with the start of the shipping season, the campaign reflects both increased activity on the waterfront and a proactive approach to community safety.
The campaign is a preventative, educational initiative designed to strengthen awareness, encourage communication, and reinforce existing safety practices across the working waterfront.
“Our port community spans dozens of industrial tenants, hundreds of vessel calls and thousands of workers annually,” said Vicki Gruber, Director of Safety & Security and Harbour Master at HOPA Ports. “While the Port already operates with robust security measures, this campaign adds another layer of vigilance by empowering people to speak up when something doesn’t seem right.”
The campaign includes awareness training, employee and partner engagement, signage across port properties, and public‑facing messaging to help people identify and report suspicious or criminal activity anonymously. Whether someone works on the docks, visits the waterfront, or lives nearby, the campaign reinforces that noticing and reporting concerns can help prevent issues before they escalate.
A key element of the campaign is anonymous reporting through Crime Stoppers of Hamilton. Tips can be submitted confidentially by phone or online.
“This campaign strengthens community awareness and shared responsibility,” said Ali Fahad, Chair of Crime Stoppers of Hamilton. “By reinforcing simple, anonymous ways to report concerns, we’re helping keep the waterfront, and our city, safe, secure and welcoming.”
Hamilton Police Service also emphasizes the value of partnerships in crime prevention. Chief Frank Bergen notes that collaboration between law enforcement, industry partners and the community lead to stronger outcomes.
“Every tip provides another opportunity to prevent or solve a crime,” Bergen said. “Community awareness plays an important role in protecting the people who work, travel and do business along Hamilton’s working waterfront.”
As the first ships of the season arrive and activity increases across the harbour, campaign partners say the timing is intentional. A busy waterfront is a healthy one, and awareness helps ensure it stays that way.
“This campaign is about empowering people, not alarming them,” Gruber added. “By working together and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right, we help ensure that crime truly doesn’t anchor here.”
Community members can submit tips anonymously by calling 1‑800‑222‑TIPS (8477) or visiting www.crimestoppershamilton.com.
To learn more about HOPA visit: www.hopaports.ca
