Edmonton Police Service launching online reporting for hate related incidents
Posted June 5, 2023 1:28 pm.
The Edmonton Police Service is launching an expansion to online reporting of crime to include hate-related incidents.
Online reporting will allow Edmontonians to have a way to report crimes if they don’t feel comfortable calling police or going to a police station, the EPS says Monday.
In addition, people can also report on behalf of someone else.
“We know that hate incidents often go unreported for a number of reasons,” says Acting Insp. Michelle Greening, with EPS Investigative Services Branch.
“In some cases, victims don’t realize that what has happened to them is reportable to police, even if it wasn’t a crime. As members of marginalized communities, victims may also be reluctant to come forward due to negative experiences with police. We hear those concerns, we are working to remedy them, and we want to make reporting as easy as possible for anyone who has experienced hate.”
What classifies a hate incident?
EPS describes hate incidents as a “non-criminal action committed against a person or property, motivated in whole or in part by the suspect’s hate, bias or prejudice towards an identifiable group, defined by real or perceived colour, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual identity, gender identity or expression, or any other similar factor.”
Hate incidents are not necessarily defined under the Criminal Code, however, investigators do gather information regarding them and will look to prevent escalation of similar behaviour.
Examples of a hate incident include; a racial slur or symbol.
A hate crime on the other hand is a criminal offence.
EPS describes hate crimes as “a criminal offence committed against a person or property, motivated in whole or in part by the suspect’s hate, bias or prejudice towards an identifiable group, defined by real or perceived colour, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual identity, gender identity or expression, or any other similar factor.”
Examples of hate crimes include; threats of violence, graffiti, distribution of hate literature, and destruction of religious property or symbols.
EPS says all hate crimes should be reported over the phone to police using 911, or 780-423-4567 for non-emergencies.
