Hate Motivated Incidents
The nature of hate-motivated incidents is continually evolving, and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) has taken steps to constantly improve our response to these incidents.
We have zero tolerance for hate or bias, and we encourage you to report incidents immediately.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of what they perceive to be a hate-motivated incident, please report it by calling 613-236-1222, pressing 1 for English, then 2 to connect to the Communications Centre, or filing a report online. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca
For information, you can reach our Hate and Bias Crime Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 5015.
We have a three-pronged approach to hate crimes: investigative, community outreach, and intelligence gathering.
This approach leverages the expertise of many sections of the OPS, not just a single unit, to ensure a thorough response to any reported incident.
| Investigative |
| Officers in the Hate and Bias Crime Unit have an excellent working relationship with the Ministry of the Attorney General and work with dedicated Crown Attorneys in Ottawa for hate-motivated investigations. Front-line officers investigate some hate-motivated incidents from the Frontline Investigations branches in East, West and Central Divisions. |
| Community Outreach |
| While an investigation is underway, a community outreach effort is also made. This can include assisting victims, a response by Community Police Officers, Diversity and Race Relations/Community Development personnel, and senior OPS leadership. Support in terms of security planning, information about the investigation, and emotional support are also often offered. At all times, various units and personnel work with the community to encourage reporting and explaining the process to community groups. |
| Intelligence |
| Our Security Intelligence Section monitors trends and issues that can lead to local incidents of hate and extremism in Ottawa. The section has individual officers who specialize in hate issues. This group works with our law enforcement and security partners on provincial, national and international levels to identify troubling trends and ensure our front-line and investigative units have the information they need on issues of hate and extremism. Their investigative support on reported cases is critical. |
Thank you for helping to eliminate these types of incidents from our communities.
We are constantly looking for ways to improve our response to hate-motivated incidents. That includes raising awareness of our approach to hate crime investigations both externally and internally.
We want you to know that the OPS has zero tolerance for hate-motivated incidents and will thoroughly investigate any filed report.
| Criminal Code of Canada |
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There is no such thing as a Hate Crime in the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC). There are only three offences in the CCC that specifically pertain to hate, and they fall under the Hate-Propaganda section: Section 318 - Advocating Genocide Section 319 (1) - Public Incitement of Hatred Section 319 (2) - Willful Promotion of Hatred There are many other offences that the public often refers to as Hate Crimes; however, in policing, we refer to these as hate-motivated or bias-motivated crimes. Investigations involving these types of crimes are complex. |
| Hate/Bias Crime |
| A criminal offence committed against a person or property that is perceived to be motivated and/or is motivated, in whole or in part, by the suspect's hate, bias or prejudice based on the victim's actual or perceived ancestry, race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion/creed, sex, age, mental or physical disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other similar factor. |
| Hate Incident |
| Hate incidents involve behaviours that, though motivated by hate, bias or prejudice against a victim's actual or perceived ancestry, race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion/creed, sex, age, mental or physical disability, gender identity or sexual orientation, are not criminal acts. |
Common Questions
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What is the difference between hate-motivated crime and any other crime? |
| If convicted of a criminal offence and it is proven to be motivated by hate or bias, higher penalties may be imposed by the judge during sentencing. |
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What if my incident is not criminal? |
| Incidents such as workplace or school harassment or refusal of service by certain companies or landlords because of who you are should not be dismissed. You may have recourse. Human rights commissions and internal policies in institutions are often overlooked and can help you resolve issues before they become criminal in nature. |
| What about graffiti? |
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Graffiti can be considered a hate crime if it:
If the graffiti you are inquiring about does not meet the above-mentioned criteria, you may contact the City of Ottawa to report it or to have it removed. |
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Why should I report a hate-motivated incident? |
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Reporting hate-motivated incidents is an important step in stopping the cycle of hatred and preventing others from being victimized. It is also important for police to be aware of hate crimes so that analysis can be done to ensure appropriate actions are taken, including putting into place the resources to make our community safer. Victims are often reluctant to report because of:
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| What happens when I talk to the police? |
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Your complaint will be taken seriously. The call taker will ask you for basic information about yourself, such as your name, address, date of birth and the best way to contact you. A report will be completed and forwarded to a police officer to follow-up. If a suspect(s) can be identified, a resolution will be sought. This can vary from criminal charges to mediation, depending on the offence and the people involved. Police officers and civilian call-takers are professionals. They receive training on victim issues and in identifying hate crimes so they can help you. |
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Can my report be kept secret? |
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Your report is confidential. Information collected by the police is protected under freedom of information laws. If charges are laid, some information may become public. However, the investigator can discuss your concerns and explore options pertaining to resolution while balancing your needs for confidentiality. |
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