A hate crime is a criminal offence committed against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by hate, bias, or prejudice against an identifiable group. An identifiable group may be distinguished by race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
Almost any type of criminal offence can be motivated by hate. Examples of hate crime offences may include acts of violence or hostility such as an assault (hitting or spitting on someone) or causing damage to property. The key is that these acts intentionally target individuals or property based on the offender’s hate towards the “identifiable group”.
A hate incident is a non-criminal action or behavior that is motivated by hate against an identifiable group. Examples of hate incidents include using racial slurs or insulting a person because of their ethnic or religious dress or how they identify. (For example, a neighbor dispute or a dispute in a parking lot which escalates to verbal abuse, derogatory or racial slurs.)
These incidents can be very harmful and lead to emotional and psychological stress. Police will respond to hate incidents and can provide education, support, and community resources to help de-escalate and address a situation.