Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw wanted to reassure Toronto residents, especially the Jewish community, in his update on hate crimes before the Toronto Police Services Board on Thursday. Anti-Semitic incidents remain disproportionately represented in reports submitted to the police in the city.

According to its latest data, Toronto police received 190 calls related to hate crimes each month from October to December 2023.

The monthly average was 47 calls related to hate crimes from January to September 2023.

As in 2023, the number of hate crime cases increased by 42% compared to 2022, with 353 reported cases in 2023 compared to 248 reported cases in 2022, according to the Toronto Police Service.

Since the onset of the conflict in the Middle East last October, hate crimes committed in the Canadian capital have increased.

Police Chief Myron Demkiw confirmed that his officers responded to 308 mobilizations since the outbreak of this war on October 7 last year. He also said that he will not allow demonstrations on the avenue bridge.

Anti-Semitism remains responsible for more reported hate crimes than any other category, accounting for 37% of all reported hate crimes in 2023.

Last week, a grocery store owned by a Jew was deliberately targeted in an attack.

Last year, 132 hate crimes related to anti-Semitism were reported, compared to 65 cases in 2022, according to Toronto police.

In 2023, authorities recorded 35 cases of hate crimes against Islam, Palestinians, and Arabs, compared to 12 cases in 2022.

The police chief also said that the LGBTQ+ community in Toronto is still targeted by hate.

So far, three hate crimes have been reported in Toronto in 2024, two cases of anti-Semitism, and one case targeting LGBTQ2S+ communities, according to the Toronto Police Service.