Hate Crime

What is the difference between a hate crime and a hate/bias incident? 

A hate crime is a crime motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on race, nationality, ethnicity, language, colour, religion, gender, age, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation of the victim.

A hate/bias incident may include name calling, racial slurs or the distribution of material promoting prejudice, and is motivated by the same factors as hate crime. It might not necessarily fall under the Criminal Code of Canada.

York Regional Police recognizes the impact that hate has on our community and is dedicated to investigating all occurrences of hate crimes and hate/bias incidents.

Have you been a victim?

If you're a victim of a hate crime or have experienced a hate/bias incident, follow these steps:

• Remain calm
• Call police immediately
• Write down the details of the incident
• Keep all relevant evidence

Hate Crimes Unit

York Regional Police is committed to combating hate crime. But only together, in partnership with our community, can we ensure that hate does not define our region. 

If you witness or have been the victim of a hate crime or hate/bias incident, report it to York Regional Police immediately.

The service has a full-time investigative Hate Crimes Unit as well as specialized hate crime investigators across the region, providing support to all our members. York Regional Police is also proud to provide hate crime training to other law enforcement agencies, community and school groups to effectively fight hate crime.

Contact us

Have you been the victim of hate? Contact us at 1-866-876-5423.

If this is an emergency, or the hate crime is still in progress, call 9-1-1.

Have an inquiry? Contact the unit at hatecrime@yrp.ca.