Hate-motivated crimes in region almost double in 2023

A report shows a 94 per cent increase in hatemotivated crime, rising to 369 instances in 2023 from 190 the year prior

Doug Craig was almost at a loss for words.

During the Waterloo Regional Police Services Board meeting Wednesday, Insp. Aaron Mathias laid out the hate-motivated crime rate for 2023. The numbers were staggering, with a 94 per cent increase in hate-motivated crime, rising to 369 instances in 2023 from 190 the year prior.

“I’m just disappointed in the statistics,” said Craig, a member of the police board and Waterloo regional councillor.

“It’s really a bit startling.”

While Mathias has said in the past the increase in hate-motivated crime numbers can partially be explained by a reduction in the stigma surrounding reporting the crimes to police, Chief of Police Mark Crowell noted post meeting there are long-standing trends that are a better representation of why numbers are jumping.

He said recent geopolitical issues, including the war in Gaza, antisemitism, and the targeting of the 2SLGBTQ+ and Black community, are pushing the numbers upward.

In fact, 2023 numbers show racerelated crimes in Waterloo Region rose to 190 in 2023, from 97 in 2022. Right behind is hate-related crimes concerning sexual orientation, at 83 in 2023 from 32 in 2022, while religion, as a target, increased to 67 in 2023 from 45 in 2022.

A further breakdown shows 87 per cent of hate-motivated crimes toward religious groups targeted Jewish people, 43 per cent of race-related hate-motivated crimes targeted Black individuals, and 58 per cent of sexual orientation crime targeted the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Crowell said the solution to combat the issue is to “create a robust plan on education and intervention and total community mobilization across all sectors.

Crowell said the trends are alarming, but partnering with vulnerable and marginalized communities that may not have complete access to reporting hate-motivated crimes is paramount.

Of the hate-motivated crimes in the region, 58 per cent of the 369 incidents were considered non-violent, and 40 per cent were for mischief or damaged property.

There were 34 criminal charges in relation to hate-motivated crimes and five charges for hate crimes.

To make it easier for individuals to report hate-motivated crimes, Mathias said Waterloo Regional Police received a 2023 Frontline Policing Grant, with the funding being used to establish a regional reporting system.