Hate crimes targeted by new police squad in Mississauga and Brampton

A new police unit in Mississauga and Brampton will more effectively investigate hate crimes and better support the victims of such incidents, Peel police say.

Peel Regional Police said Monday they’ve formed a dedicated and centralized Hate Crime Unit to enhance their response to both hate-motivated crimes and “culturally sensitive” incidents.

The new squad of officers will work with other departments within the police force as well as community organizations in an effort to “provide a more streamlined and culturally responsive approach to community safety,” police said in a news release.

“These teams will lead investigations across the organization, focusing on hate-motivated incidents, all occurrences involving religious institutions and cultural centres, and incidents stemming from socio/geopolitical tensions.”

The Hate Crime Unit will also provide “specialized support to frontline officers, strengthen investigative capacity, provide enhanced support to victims and build stronger trust with communities that are most impacted.”

Peel police Deputy Chief Mark Dapat said victims of hate-motivated incidents are encouraged to report their experiences to law enforcement, adding the new hate crime team “will relentlessly pursue and hold those who commit hate crimes accountable. Acts of hate have no place in our community.”

A recent incident in which hate-related graffiti was found near a public park in Mississauga is being investigated by the new Hate Crime Unit, police said earlier.

(Source: Peel Regional Police 2024 Hate-motivated Crime Report)

In May, Peel police reported they laid more than twice as many hate crime charges last year in Mississauga and Brampton compared to 2023 despite the number of such offences remaining virtually unchanged.

Statistics from Peel Regional Police show there were 166 reported hate-motivated crimes in the region’s two large cities in 2024 compared to 162 the previous year.

However, 74 charges were laid in 2024 while 35 charges were filed in 2023. Tracking back to 2022, police in Peel laid 37 charges and there were 123 hate crimes reported in the region.

Dapat, who authored the 2024 Hate-motivated Crime Report, noted earlier this year the “significant increase” in number of charges laid from 2023 to last year.

“This increase could be attributed to a variety of factors,” he said in the conclusion of his report.

Dapat said those factors include, but are not limited to:

• a shift in the types and severity of crimes that are motivated by hate
• a continued enhancement of our investigators’ expertise and understanding of hate-related matters
• ongoing collaboration with community partners who recognize the importance of reporting such incidents

“The increase in the percentage of charges laid can also be partially attributed to heightened trust and confidence among community members in police and (our) response to hate-motivated crimes,” the deputy chief added. “This strengthened relationship has fostered greater willingness to engage in investigations and provide essential statements, thereby enhancing the ability to hold offenders accountable.”

Hate-motivated crimes, per the latest Peel police report, are defined as those committed “against a person or property that are motivated solely or in part by the offender’s hate, bias or prejudice based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or similar factor.”

Police say hate crimes can be reported by calling 905-453-3311 for non-emergencies or by dialing 911 in an emergency.

“Upon receiving a hate crime report, a uniform patrol officer will provide the initial response before the Hate Crime Unit assumes responsibility for the investigation,” police said this week.