Police are asking you to call them if you experience a hate-motivated crime. Photo CITY News.
The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit has been beefed up from six to 20 officers and eight Special Constables to deal with a rise of anti-semitism in the wake of the Israeli-Hamas war.
The force has created an online application form that is monitored 24-hours where residents can alert police to hate-motivated graffiti.
“Officers can attend, gather evidence and arrange for the hate-motivated graffiti to be removed as quickly as possible,” Chief Myron Demkiw said at a news conference on October 8.
The Hate Crime Unit has received more manpower and an online form in place to curb anti-semitism.
The form is available on the Toronto Police website.
Police have noted that there has been a significant rise in hate crime incidents of about 132 per cent since the war began on October 7.
Toronto police received 237 hate crime reports from January 1 to October 7, up from the 192 incidents reported in the same period last year.
During the first days of the war police saw an additional 14 hate crime reports. In comparison, police only saw five incidents over the same period last year and just one in 2021.
There has been a significant increase in hate crimes since the Israeli-Hamas war began, police said.
“A hate-motivated crime not only victimizes individuals, but also entire communities,” said Chief Demkiw. “We urge Torontonians to report these incidents to police so we can investigate and hold people to account who commit these crimes.“
He said the number of reports involving hate-motivated graffiti, which falls under the offence of mischief, has seen the largest increase.
Police warn victims of hate crime to stay calm, keep all relevant material, record all information regarding the incident and call police immediately by phone, online or by going to your local police station.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw.
The Unit is part of Intelligence Services and was established in 1993 to provide support to frontline officers and investigative units throughout the city.
The Unit monitors hate-motivated crime for the purpose of aiding and identifying crimes and criminals and to assist with sentencing at the end of the judicial process.
The new online form provides Toronto residents with another convenient way file a report.
In addition residents can contact 416-808-2222, or Crime Stoppers if they prefer to remain anonymous.