TWO RCMP detachments in the Lower Mainland (North Vancouver RCMP and Coquitlam RCMP) on Tuesday added Hate Motivated Incidents to the list of incidents available for Online Crime Reporting.

Similar to Hate Motivated Crime, Hate Motivated Incidents are different in that they do not meet the threshold of a crime as defined in the Criminal Code.

“In Canada, it is a crime to possess or distribute hate propaganda, to incite hatred publicly, or to vandalize religious property,” said North Vancouver RCMP Sgt. Peter DeVries.

Some examples of hate crimes include:

• A person being assaulted or threatened because of their sexual orientation or race
• Hate graffiti that is anti-Semitic or that incites hatred of a group based on ethnic origin
• Hate motivated damage to a business or place of worship

Hate Motivated Crimes are not eligible for online crime reporting, and reports are taken in person.

Hate Motivated Incidents, on the other hand, are defined by an encounter or experience where a person is targeted by another based on a motivation or suspected motivation of hatred. Examples of Hate Motivated Incidents include:

• Distribution of flyers or correspondence that contains negative references to an identified ethnic group
• Insults or poor treatment of a person because of their sexual orientation or race

Although Hate Motivated Incidents are not crimes, police strongly encourage the public to report them, and they can now do so quickly and easily via Online Crime Reporting.

“We wanted to make these incidents easier to report because it is very important for police to investigate any incident in which there is an element of hatred, regardless of whether or not it brings us to the point where we have the authority to make an arrest. Stopping these behaviours is extremely important for public safety, and critical to community wellbeing,” said DeVries.

The addition of Hate Motivated Incidents to Online Crime Reporting as a pilot project makes it easier than ever for the public to report hate motivated incidents. RCMP hope the ease of reporting will increase the likelihood people will inform police of incidents that they otherwise would not have reported.

If the pilot project is successful, the ability to report Hate Motivated Incidents will be made available to other communities policed by the RCMP across British Columbia in a phased approach. Citizens with a valid email address can report Hate Motivated Incidents that occur in the City or District of North Vancouver.

Below is a full list of the incident types that can be reported online:

• Hate Motivated Incidents;
• Damage/Mischief to property under $5000;
• Damage/Mischief to vehicle under $5000;
• Hit and run to unoccupied vehicle or property;
• Theft of bicycle under $5000;
• Theft under $5000;
• Theft from vehicle under $5000;
• Lost property;
• Driving complaints;
• Lost or stolen license plates or decals.

To make a report using Online Crime Reporting visit report.rcmp.ca.