Organizational News

The Toronto Police Service presented its 2025 Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report to the Toronto Police Service Board today, highlighting a 50 per cent decrease in reported hate-motivated and related offences over 2024. However, hate crimes are on the rise so far in 2026.

In 2025, there were 231 reported hate-motivated offences, compared to 443 in 2024 and 372 in 2023. The total also fell below the five‑year average of 299 occurrences, with declines reported across all bias categories, with the exception of gender identity or expression.

Police arrested 73 people in connection with hate‑motivated and related offences, resulting in 217 criminal charges, representing a 37 per cent decrease from 2024.

Approximately 32 per cent of 2025 reported cases resulted in arrests, up from 25 per cent in 2024 (many of these investigations are still ongoing). The 2025 case to arrest ratio represents a 100% increase compared to 2023.

Despite the overall decrease, hate crimes motivated by religion, race/ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression remained the most frequently reported, with the Jewish community the most frequently targeted group of all hate‑motivated crimes.

So far in 2026, there has been a concerning 40 per cent increase in reported hate crimes, compared to the same time last year. Hate Crime is a significant community concern, with many of these crimes still underreported.

“The harm caused by hate continues to be very concerning, particularly for communities that continue to be targeted most frequently,” said Chief of Police Myron Demkiw. “The data shows that Jewish, Black and 2SLGBTQI+ communities remain most impacted, year after year.  We are steadfast in our commitment to confronting hate in all its forms and making it easier for people to come forward and report incidents of hate. In the last two years, we have strengthened our Hate Crime Unit and established the Counter-Terrorism Security Unit, which now encompasses the Hate Crime Unit, because we recognize the importance of addressing violent extremism early, in order to prevent harm.”

Also of note in 2025:

• Religiously motivated hate crimes decreased by 49 per cent compared to 2024, with Anti‑Jewish occurrences representing 82 per cent of religiously motivated hate crimes and Anti-Muslim occurrences representing 14 per cent.
• Race‑based hate crimes declined by 56 per cent, with anti‑Black incidents representing most occurrences within this category.
• A total of 37 anti‑2SLGBTQI+ occurrences were reported, accounting for 16 per cent of all hate crimes.
• Mischief and assault continued to be the most common hate related offence types, though both declined significantly. Mischief‑related offences dropped by 57 per cent, while assault‑related occurrences fell by 51 per cent from 2024.
• In 2025, there were more than 375 protests and demonstrations related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. During demonstrations, 84 individuals were arrested and 186 criminal charges were laid. The Hate Crime Unit continues to be deployed during these protests, and other protests, to provide specialized expertise
• Public streets were the most common locations for reported hate crimes, followed by public transit. Hate crimes on public transit declined by 52 per cent, while hate crimes involving online or telecommunications platforms increased, accounting for approximately 16 per cent of all reported occurrences in 2025.
• Overall, there was a decrease in hate crime reports and arrests in 2025 compared to 2024. However, approximately 32% of 2025 cases resulted in arrests, as opposed to 25% in 2024 which signifies an increase in case to arrest ratio, and a 100% increase to 2023 data.

Recognizing that hate crimes are underreported, measures aimed at reducing barriers to reporting and increasing public awareness continue:

• To enhance transparency, the Service expanded and updated the Hate Crime Dashboard on the Public Safety Data Portal throughout 2025, providing the public with insight into hate crime trends and reporting.
• In partnership with TTC, the Hate Crime Unit helped launch Project NextStop, a public awareness initiative delivered under the SafeTO strategy to promote reporting and community safety.
• The Hate‑Motivated Graffiti Intake Form continued to support efficient reporting and investigative response. In 2025, 319 submissions were received
• To further enhance accessibility, the Service expanded its Online Reporting System to include hate‑motivation indicators, enabling reporting in 98 languages for theft, mischief, and graffiti incidents.
• The Hate Crime Unit engages regularly with the community through participation in public meetings, conferences, and forums, and collaborates with internal partners and advocacy groups dedicated to addressing and preventing hate.

The Service is committed to community safety and victim support through the prevention and investigation of hate crimes.

The Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report provides data about criminal offences that are committed against persons or property which are motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on the victim’s race, nationality or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, or any other similar factor.

The data is based on hate crimes reported to the Toronto Police Service between January 1 and December 31, 2025.

The report can be found on page 176 of today’s Board agenda.

If media would like an interview about the 2025 Hate Crime Report, please contact Corporate Communications at [email protected].

The Toronto Police Service is dedicated to delivering police services in partnership with our communities to keep Toronto the best and safest place to be. We are committed to being a world leader in policing through excellence, innovation, continuous learning, quality leadership, and management.