Annual Hate Crimes data show a 13% increase in reporting to police

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, January 12, 2023   9:15 am

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit released its 2022 Annual statistics. The Hate and Bias Crime unit saw 377 total incidents, including 300 criminal and 77 hate incidents, which marks an increase of 13% over 2021.

In 2022, 51 individuals were charged with 174 counts of criminal offences. Five of these offences included formal Hate Crime Offences (Willful Promotion of Hatred and Public Incitement of Hatred).

Eight warnings and seven Youth Criminal Justice Act warnings were issued.

A hate crime is a criminal offence committed against a person or property motivated by hate/bias or prejudice based on race, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or other similar factors.

The most serious violations in 2022 were:

• Mischief to property
• Threats
• Assault
• Assault with a weapon

The groups most victimized are:

• Jewish
• Muslim
• Black
• LGBTQ+
• Arab West Asian
• East and South Asian

Note: the groups listed above are established and defined by Statistics Canada.

Hate crimes are extremely underreported. We encourage anyone who has experienced a hate incident to report it to us for further investigation.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate-motivated crime, please report it to the Ottawa Police Hate and Bias Crime Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or online.

 Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

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 CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366