Report Hate

Have you witnessed or are a victim of a hate crime or a hate incident? REPORT IT!

IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING AND REPORTING HATE CRIME

The Niagara Regional Police Service is dedicated to serving and protecting residents and visitors within the Regional Municipality of Niagara.

In partnership with the community, we shall provide quality policing services, with integrity, diligence, and sensitivity. It is our commitment to advance our understanding of Hate-Motivated Offences and Incidents to strengthen our community.

It is critically important to treat all victims and complainants of Hate-Motivated Offences and Incidents with respect and empathy to strengthen relationships and awareness between religions, cultures, and communities - ensuring equality, inclusion, acceptance, and mutual respect.

Hate-Motivated Offences and Incidents impact our community foundation, and we are dedicated to educating the community on why it is important to understand and report Hate-Motivated Incidents and Hate-Motivated Offences.

IN AN EMERGENCY: CALL 9-1-1.

• Stay calm.

• Call the police from a safe location.

To report a hate crime or hate incident to the Niagara Regional Police Service that is not an emergency, call:

St. Catharines, Thorold, Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake - (905) 688-4111

Fort Erie - (905) 871-2300

Grimsby, Lincoln, and West Lincoln - (905) 945-2211

Welland, Wainfleet, Pelham, and Port Colborne (905) 735-7811.

Hate Crime VS Hate Incident - what is the difference?

A hate crime is a criminal offence committed against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by hate, bias, or prejudice against an identifiable group. An identifiable group may be distinguished by race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

Almost any type of criminal offence can be motivated by hate. Examples of hate crime offences may include acts of violence or hostility such as an assault (hitting or spitting on someone) or causing damage to property. The key is that these acts intentionally target individuals or property based on the offender’s hate towards the “identifiable group”.

A hate incident is a non-criminal action or behavior that is motivated by hate against an identifiable group. Examples of hate incidents include using racial slurs or insulting a person because of their ethnic or religious dress or how they identify. (For example, a neighbor dispute or a dispute in a parking lot which escalates to verbal abuse, derogatory or racial slurs.)

These incidents can be very harmful and lead to emotional and psychological stress. Police will respond to hate incidents and can provide education, support, and community resources to help de-escalate and address a situation.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Section 2 of the Charter reads:

Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

A. Freedom of conscience and religion.

B. Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.

C. Freedom of peaceful assembly; and

D. Freedom of association.

Hate speech is not protected by the Charter.

Hate Crime Pamphlet - English

Hate Crime Pamphlet - French

Hate Crime Pamphlet - Arabic

Hate Crime Pamphlet - Chinese