Toronto has seen an alarming rise in hate crimes this year.
In an update to the Toronto Police Services Board Thursday morning, Chief Myron Demkiw revealed that between January 1 and November 20, 2023, there have been 323 reported hate crimes in Toronto versus 224 reported during the same time in 2022. This includes 129 reported anti-Semitic hate crimes and 34 reported anti-Muslim/anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab hate crimes reported.
Between October 7 and November 20, 2023, there have been 78 hate crimes reported in Toronto, compared to 37 reported in 2022 during the same time period.
There were 78 hate crimes reported between October 7 and November 20, compared to 37 reported in the same time period last year. Of these 38 (49 per cent) have been anti-Semitic hate crimes (versus 13 during the same period last year), 17 reported anti-Muslim/anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab hate crimes (versus one during the same period last year).
The chief noted that there has also been a marked increase in reported hate crimes targeting LGBTQ2S+ communities during this period – nine compared to five during the same period last year.
Since October 7, the Hate Crime Unit has been responsible for 25 arrests and 64 charges laid in relation to reported hate incidents.
In response, Toronto police increased the size of its Hate Crime Unit from a dedicated team of six officers to a team of 21 investigators and eight Special Constables, along with an analyst and researcher position. This is being done by temporarily reassigning members from other areas of the Service in order to prioritize the response to these crimes and expand investigative capacity.
Since October 7, 2023, there has been a significant spike in reported hate-related graffiti. There have been 63 hate graffiti occurrences that were anti-Muslim / anti-Palestinian / anti-Arab. There were 2 reported during the same period last year. There have been 217 hate graffiti occurrences that were anti-Semitic since October 7 compared to 19 reported during the same time period in 2022.
“The impact of crime motivated by hate is far-reaching, and extends beyond the physical and emotional trauma suffered by the victim, but affecting all members of the targeted community,” said Chief Demkiw. “I want to be clear – the Toronto Police Service will not allow the people of our city to be intimated. Violence and hateful acts will not be tolerated. The Service and our Hate Crime Unit will aggressively pursue any suspected incidents of hate motivated behaviour.”
