Online hate crime reporting tool launched

Article content

From offensive graffiti to discriminatory language, hate crimes have been committed against minority groups for years, and many victims are unable to receive the support they need. Ottawa Victim Services wants to change that with the launch of an online hate crime reporting tool.

The tool has been made so those who have experienced hate crimes and other hate-motivated incidents can report their experiences in order to receive assistance that includes emotional support, counseling, financial aid for home safety devices and removal of graffiti.

Article content

“This initiative is crucial for community members affected by hate crimes and incidents,” said Heidi Illingworth, the executive director of OVS.

“We recognize that not everyone is comfortable engaging with law enforcement. Now, Ottawa residents can report their experiences, seek support and access services in a way that prioritizes their safety and comfort, especially since hate crimes are rising everywhere,” she continued.

The Ottawa Police Service defines a hate crime as “a criminal offence committed against a person or property motivated by hate/bias or prejudice based on race, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or other similar factors”

In January, police presented 2024 hate-crime statistics showing a total of 467 reported incidents. From 2015 to 2020, there were more than 900 confirmed hate-crime incidents, according to City of Ottawa data, and another 300 incidents were suspected to be hate crimes.

The groups most impacted by those hate crimes included the Jewish, LGBTQ2+, Black, Muslim and Chinese communities.

The data didn’t include those who chose not to file official police reports.

Article content

Article content

The types of “reportable incidents” using the new online tool include:

– Verbal harassment

– Physical assault

– Personal property damage

– Online harassment

– Vandalism

– Abusive or discriminatory calls

While there have been other projects similar to this one, such as the Islamophobia-Motivated Incident Reporting Tool app that OVS launched in 2024, this is the first third-party reporting tool specific to Ottawa, and it is open to people from all religious, racial and sexual identities, Illingworth says.

It was soft-launched before Christmas and as of late February had received six reports. “We just wanted to officially announce it to the community,” Illingworth said.

The project was funded by the Province of Ontario through the anti-racism and anti-hate initiative announced in September and designed to close the gap between survivors of hate crimes and the services they need.

“We know there’s hesitation among especially racialized folks, among immigrants, people from religious minorities who have maybe had negative experiences with police in the past, so they can be very hesitant to come forward,” Illingworth said.

Article content

No one who accesses the online tool has to file a police report, but there is support available if they choose to do so.

Illingworth says the hope is that more people will feel safe in sharing their experiences. “The more community-based options we have for folks to, if they wish, come forward, and even if it’s just to document what has happened to them or to a friend or loved one, they can do so and they can do so anonymously,” she said.

By providing a safe, accessible and anonymous way to report experiences, the initiative ensures that survivors can seek the help they need without fear or hesitation, Illingworth added, although those wishing to receive follow-up support can also provide their contact information.

Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.

Article content