Hate Crime reports to police increase to a rate of close to 44% in 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 4, 2022      12:20pm 

(Ottawa) — Today, the Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit released its 2021 annual statistics that show an increase of 43.6% for reported hate-motivated incidents.

The Unit reviewed a total of 340 reports in 2021; and deemed 260 to be criminal. Police charged 26 individuals with 92 counts of various criminal offences, including formal warnings to nine individuals and two YCJA warnings. 

In 2020, hate crime reports were up by 56.9% - from 116 cases reported in 2019 to 181 cases reported in 2020. That year, 24 people were charged with 58 counts of various hate-motivated offences.

“This is a troubling trend considering not all hate-motivated incidents are reported to police,” said Ottawa Police Sgt. Ali Toghrol of the Hate and Bias Crime Unit. “Hate Crimes create fear and mistrust which can deeply impact our community. The Hate and Bias Crime Unit will investigate all reported hate motivated incidents and we will continue to engage and educate the public.”

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

The most serious violations seen in 2021 were:

• Mischief to property
• Assault
• Threats/utter to person
• Mischief hate
• Assault with weapon

The groups most victimized were:

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

More information about hate-motivated incidents can be found online.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate-motivated crime, please report it to the Ottawa Police 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 

- 30 -

CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366