Hate crimes up 93% as Toronto cops face ‘unprecedented’ times: Chief | Maqvi News

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Hate crimes are up a whopping 93% in the city since Oct. 7, 2023, compared to the same period last year, according to Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw.

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Demkiw told the Toronto Police Services Board on Monday that cops have attended 989 hate crime calls for service during this time, there have been 203 hate crime occurrences and authorities are responding on average to 167 hate crime calls a month.

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“While we saw a reduction in calls for service for hate crimes in December and January, we have seen a significant increase in February with a 67% rise in calls,” said Demkiw in a statement.

“Of the 84 hate crimes so far in 2024, 56% are anti-Semitic. Last month saw the highest number of anti-Semitic occurrences in the last three years.”

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Demkiw said the second highest number of hate crimes reported were directed toward the 2SLGBTQI+ communities. They were followed by anti-Black and anti-Muslim/Arab/Palestinian incidents.

“While under-reporting of all forms of hate crimes is a concern, I know from talking to people in the community that Islamophobia is a significant concern and given our statistics I am concerned about significant under-reporting in this regard,” he said in a statement.

“Our numbers here today, I believe we’ve had five reports this year (against) the Muslim community, which is really not in alignment from what I’m hearing from the community on the ground.”

He said, as a result, he has added an additional Muslim liaison officer and police are moving their command posts around the city’s mosques.

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Demkiw said people sometimes don’t report hate crimes due to a sense of helplessness, a concern about what will happen and how it will be handled.

The chief said since Oct. 7, 2023, there have been 69 arrests and 173 charges laid in regards to hate crimes, mischief, assaults and uttering threats and 342 hate-related graffiti occurrences. Toronto Police have also made 24 protest-related arrests and laid 30 charges, but Demkiw was asked during a news conference after the board meeting about public criticism that the police should be making more arrests at demonstrations.

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“This is an unprecedented time,” said Demkiw. “Since Oct. 7, we’ve faced over 500 planned and unplanned demonstrations. We have many a day, sometimes up to a dozen a day, we are managing and other a number of incidents that certainly garnered some media attention. We have facilitated assemblies where charter-protected activities took place. We have made arrests. And as the behaviour of demonstrators change, we pivot and adjust.”

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Demkiw said cars being used in protests, more aggressive behaviour toward officers, disruptive behaviour and pop-up and rapidly developing demonstrations were just some examples of the behavioural changes.

The chief was also asked about Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca seeking a new bylaw that would prevent protests within 100 metres of places of worship, schools and childcare facilities.

“I look forward to reading the details of how that bylaw unfolds to see what opportunity it provides,” said Demkiw.

“Every level of government has a role to play in doing what can be done to prevent hate. And any opportunity, whether legislative or otherwise, to create awareness and stop this kind of behaviour is welcome by the police.”

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