Hate occurrences soar 50 per cent higher for second consecutive year: London police
The number of hate occurrences reported to London police has grown by more than 50 per cent for a second year in a row.
A new report to the London Police Services Board (LPSB) reveals a troubling trend for hate crimes and hate incidents:
- 146 in 2021 (up 57 per cent)
- 93 in 2020 (up 52 per cent)
The number of hate occurrences has been steady at about 60 in each of the previous three years (2017-2019).
Black, LGBTQ2+, and Muslim Londoners were most frequently targeted in the reported occurrences.
There were 55 criminal charges laid by police related to hate/bias occurrences in 2021, a 120 per cent increase over the previous year.
Last June, the pride flag was ripped from the porch of Stephen Karchut and his partner’s home in southeast London — It was later found burned.
The incident was one of the hate occurrences reported to London police last year.Graph detailing hate crimes and incidents. (Source: London police)
“To not feel safe in your home is horrible. To not feel safe in your community is horrible,” explained Karchut. “It’s really disgusting to see the trend continuously moving upwards.”
“Anecdotally, we’re hearing it,” Nawaz Tahir says the local Muslim community is aware of the rising amount of hate in London.
Tahir believes growing confidence to report incidents to police only accounts for part of the increase.
“Hate crimes remain vastly underreported, but I think there’s just more hate out there right now,” he said.
The police data is broken down into two subsets, hate crimes and hate incidents.
Hate crimes involve a violation of the criminal code, whereas hate incidents such as hostile speech do not meet the criteria to charge an individual.
“Right now the justice system is ill-equipped and ill-resourced to help victims of hate crimes,” Tahir explained.Graph detailing five most frequently targeted groups. (Source: London police)
He says the Our London Family Act proposed by the National Council of Canadian Muslims calls on the federal government to broaden and strengthen hate crime laws in Canada.
It also calls for the creation of a Provincial Hate Crime Accountability Unit that would offer support and investigate failures in fighting hate.
“Part of why we are seeing this is people who traffic in hate feeling empowered,” added Tahir.
According to Karchut, London police took the incident involving his flag seriously, eventually identifying the youth responsible.
“I’d like to see more of an education system put into our schools, [teaching] tolerance.”
The London Police Services Board will consider the 2021 Hate-motivated Crime and Incident Report at its May 19 meeting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
NEW Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a family
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.