Cornwall Police Service

Report Hate

Hate Motivated Incidents

As part of its EDI journey, the CPS identified the need to improve how it conducts investigations of hate-based incidents and crimes.

Since this time, the CPS has designated two Detective Constables responsible for investigating and following-up all hate-based incidents.

The officers review all incidents that may be a criminal offence or a hate-based incident with a view towards supporting the victim, educating the offender and ensuring the incident has been properly classified in the police database. The officer is also responsible for working closely with other police officers to provide education and training in order to ensure incidents are handled and fully-investigated using a holistic approach.

A hate or bias motivated crime is defined as a criminal occurrence committed against a person or property, which is motivated by hate/bias or prejudice based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation or any other similar factor.

Non-criminal hate incidents involve the same characteristics as hate/bias crimes, but do not meet the threshold to be classified as criminal under Canada’s Criminal Code. Given the nature of these incidents and their potential to generate widespread fear in affected communities, police have an important reassurance role to play when responding to such occurrences.

What is a hate crime?

A “hate crime” or “ hate-motivated” offence involves the intentional selection of a victim based on the offender’s prejudice toward a “group” characteristic assigned to the victim.

Examples: race, ethnic background, religion, gender, physical or mental disability or sexual orientation.

 

What is a hate-motivated incident?

Every offence where hate was the motive.

 

Reporting of Hate Crimes

Research shows that about two thirds of people who are victimized by hate motivated crime do not report their victimization to police.

Reasons include:

  • Confusion or lack of knowledge re: what hate motivated crime is
  • Fear
  • Lack of trust in police or ability of police to investigate
  • Belief that incident may not be serious enough to report

Why is it important to report a hate crime?

• Police need to know how big the problem is and where the problem is to respond

• Police need information to respond effectively AND deploy their resources to these incidents

How is the CPS responding?

  • Ongoing training in the investigation of Hate Crimes
  • Currently have two full-time detective constables trained to investigate hate crimes and hate-motivated incidents
  • Have developed an Internal Hate Crime Working Group to assist with strengthening our ability to investigate and educate
  • Ongoing training offered to frontline officers
  • Community outreach to build the relationship and trust between police and diverse communities
  • Media promotion to increase awareness and promote reporting of hate based incidents and crimes
  • Review of internal policies relating to hate crimes and hate-motivated incidents
  • Information sharing between the Hate/Bias Crime Extremism Investigative Team Group 
  • Including Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity as a major pillar of the 2021-2023 Strategic Plan
  • 34 EDI-related action items contained in the 2022 Operational Action Plan, including increasing the number of hate-based incidents reported to police

Report a Hate Crime/Hate-Motivated Incident:

To report a hate crime, please call 613-932-2110.

If you see or experience hate, report it. We want everyone to live in a safe space, and by reporting, we can investigate these matters, bring appropriate charges, help support victims to create a safer and more inclusive community.