News
2024 Toronto Police annual Hate Crime Report shows 19 per cent increase in reported hate crimes

May 22, 2025, Toronto, Ont. – The Toronto Police Service presented its 2024 Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report to the Toronto Police Service Board on May 14, highlighting an 84 per cent increase in the number of individuals charged with hate-motivated offences compared to the year before.

In total, 115 people were charged in 2024, up from 63 in 2023. This increase reflects the continued efforts of the Service’s centralized Hate Crime Unit.

The Report also identified a 19 per cent increase in reported hate crimes, with 443 reported compared to 372 in 2023. This marks a slower rate of increase than the 46 per cent increase the Service reported between 2022 and 2023 (246 in 2022 and 372 in 2023).

So far in 2025, there has been a 47 per cent decrease in reported hate crimes, compared to the same time last year. Despite this decrease, hate crime remains a serious concern, with many of these crimes still underreported.

Of note in 2024:

• 209 hate-motivated criminal charges were laid – a 34 per cent increase from 156 in 2023.
• Eight counts of Public Incitement of Hatred were laid against eight individuals in seven cases. These rarely laid charges do not require the consent of the Attorney General.
• Public streets and transit were the most common locations for reported hate crimes, with an 88 per cent increase in incidents on public transit compared to the year before.
• Initiatives to address this issue include partnering with the TTC to address the rise in hate crimes on public transit with several educational campaigns
• The Hate Motivated Graffiti Intake Form generated over 440 submissions in 2024 (more than 640 since its launch in November 2023).
• Religion was the leading motivating factor in 2024, followed by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity.
• The most frequently targeted communities were the Jewish, 2SLGBTQ+, Black, and Muslim communities.
• The report also identified a notable increase in hate crimes targeting the South Asian community, rising from 14 in 2023 to 41 in 2024.
• The most commonly reported hate-motivated offences were Mischief, Assault, Uttering Threats, and Criminal Harassment.

“Hate crimes have far-reaching effects that go beyond the initial criminal act – whether it’s graffiti, harassment or assault. These crimes impact not just the victim, but their family, friends, and the broader community,” said Deputy Chief Rob Johnson. “While progress is being made, we know there is more work to do. We remain committed to building stronger relationships with Toronto’s many diverse communities and to addressing hate in all its forms. We also recognize that many hate crimes go unreported and continue to focus on education and outreach. We urge community members to report any incidents of hate, bias, or prejudice so we can work together to stop these 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, 2024.