B'nai Brith 1996 Press Releases Page

COMMUNITY GROUPS CALL FOR BETTER POLICE / COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND A STRONGER STAND AGAINST RACISM AND HATE ACTIVITY

For Immediate Release

Toronto, December 11, 1996... At a press conference at Metro Hall yesterday, in preparation for deputations at the Police Services Board, Thursday, December 12 at 4pm, a coalition of community groups, under the auspices of the Police - Community Network on Anti-Racism, Access and Equity called for a tougher stand against racism and hate activity.

Representing the consensus of those Metro organizations presently most involved and interested in countering hate activity, Dr. Karen Mock, National Director fo the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada, made the following statement: “The Metropolitan Toronto Police Service is to be commended for increasing their role in countering hate and gate group activity over the last few years. Since 1993, the Service has been gathering hate crime statistics both to highlight the problem, determine patterns, and to document the nature of target groups so that better services can be provided to assist victims. Taking hate crime more seriously has led to a decline in organized hate group activity in Metro. Members of the Metro Police Hate Crimes Unit have begun to provide training for front line officers, and have contributed to regional, national and international training programs on hate\bias crime. There has also been an active attempt to involve high school students in drama presentations and other cooperative programs with the police to increase awareness in schools and develop proactive strategies to counter hate group recruitment. A successful public education campaign has produced posters and pamphlets to encourage Metro residents to report hate crimes, and several partnership programs have been launched with community and school groups to increase awareness of this issues. It is the consensus of the Anti-hate Subcommittee of Metro's Anti-Racism, Access and Equity Committee, based on a recent study of the Nature and Extent of Racism and Hate Activity in Metropolitan Toronto, that much can be done to support and strengthen police efforts to counter hate\bias crime, and to increase police\community partnerships in this endeavour.”

Comparison of the last three years of Metro Police statistics, with data on anti-Semitism from the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada, and data on hate crimes against gays and lesbians compiled by the 519 Community Centre revealed a significant increase in recent years of hate crimes and racist incidents in Metro. The study also revealed that many victim groups do not trust the police, there is tremendous inconsistency in reporting and follow-up, and these incidents are notoriously under-reported by victims because of fear and frustrations. We therefore recommend that: “Metro Police work with other policing services across the country to develop and universally accepted definition of hate\bias crime that is consistent also with the wording of Bill C-41; A JOINT FORCES OPERATION should be created to formalize intelligence and operations sharing among all relevant jurisdictions as hate knows no turfs or boundaries. There should be training conducted in every division to ensure consistency in recognizing, reporting and handling of hate crime. More effective victim services should be provided, including provision of recourse for a victim to the Hate Crimes Unit when there is a discrepancy at the local level. Resources should be reallocated to strengthen the Hate Crimes Unit, such that there is a consistent dedicated unit, with permanent staffing and materials for a more extensive training program at the local levels. Public education programs should be continued across Metro in partnership with community organizations to raise awareness of hate\bias crimes and develop effective community-based strategies to counter hate group activity. Cooperation should be encouraged with schools, anti-racism groups and the police to enhance effectiveness of all parties in countering hate\bias crime in Metropolitan Toronto.”

We believe that the Metro Anti-Racism, Access and Equity Centre has a key role to play in assisting to coordinate the community response to hate\bias crime in Metro, and to enhance cooperation and communication with the Metro Police Hate Crimes Unit to ensure more effective reporting, education and training in this important area to increase the safety and security of all Metro residents and visitors.

COMMUNITY GROUPS WILL MAKE DEPUTATIONS TO THE POLICE SERVICES BOARD ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 AT 4:00PM AT THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

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