Hate crimes on the rise in Vancouver

 

 

 

 

 

The Vancouver Police Department takes hate crimes very seriously, with a dedicated unit, the VPD Hate Crimes Section, to ensure these files that they are thoroughly investigated in a timely manner. The number of reported incidents has fluctuated over the past few years and recent increases in reporting are seen as positive and attributed to the improved communications and partnerships between the police department and Vancouver’s diverse communities.

 

Additionally, the Vancouver Police Department has a Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transgendered (LGBT) liaison officer in place who is the Neighbourhood Police Officer assigned to the West End Community Police Centre. This constable works very closely with the community to foster improved reporting of crimes of all types and to increase the Department’s ability beyond the patrol section in proactively detecting and dealing with hate crimes.

 

The Vancouver Police Department is engaged in a number of forums with the LGBT and other communities in the City of Vancouver to foster discussion and promote improved learning and police response to hate crime incidents. The VPD is a supporter of the Pride Parade and a large contingent of officers and executive members, as well as our Chief, participate in the annual event.

 

“Prejudice has no place in our society and crimes motivated by hate or bias should not be tolerated,” said Constable Lindsey Houghton today, responding to questions about a recent report citing Vancouver as having some of the highest reported incidents of hate crime in Canada.