Peel Regional Police have released the hate crime statistics for 2023, revealing a concerning 31.7% increase in hate-motivated incidents across Brampton and Mississauga. The total number of reported hate crimes rose to 162 last year, up from 123 in 2022, marking the largest year-over-year increase since a similar surge was noted in 2017.
The majority of the incidents were categorized as mischief-related, with 86 occurrences, followed by 37 instances of uttering threats, and 34 assaults. Other forms of hate-motivated crimes included criminal harassment, theft, and break and enter.
Race and nationality were identified as the primary motives for the hate crimes, particularly affecting Brampton and Mississauga’s Black communities, which saw the highest number of incidents. There was also a significant escalation in crimes targeting the Jewish and Muslim populations. The Jewish community experienced a substantial increase from 30 incidents in 2022 to 68 in 2023. Similarly, victimization of the Muslim community more than tripled, with incidents rising from three in 2022 to 13 in 2023.
Local and global events often influence the frequency of hate crimes, as evidenced by the correlation with the Israel-Hamas conflict, which appeared to exacerbate local tensions and the dissemination of hate speech and misinformation targeting specific communities.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown voiced his concerns, stating, “It is alarming that our communities are feeling less safe than ever. The rising levels of antisemitism and Islamophobia are particularly worrying.”
Peel police are actively addressing these concerns through new initiatives aimed at improving the reporting process for hate crimes. This year, the force plans to launch an online hate crime reporting platform, enabling reports to be made conveniently via computer or mobile device. This platform will feature screening questions to categorize incidents, with severe cases being directly forwarded to a dedicated communications department for immediate action.
Deputy Chief Mark Dapat of the Peel Regional Police emphasized the importance of community engagement in tackling this issue. “Hate crimes are often under-reported, and we are committed to changing this through robust community engagement and the strengthening of our reporting processes,” he said.
This rise in hate crimes has prompted calls for action from community leaders and law enforcement to better understand and combat the roots of this worrying trend.