“Any form of hate, whether it be through criminal acts or racist language, has no place in British Columbia,” said Garry Begg, minister of public safety and solicitor general.
“In response to rising acts of hate in our communities, our government is ensuring the B.C. hate crimes unit has the resources needed to investigate these crimes to the fullest extent possible to hold perpetrators to account,” he added in a statement.
According to a government release issued July 4, B.C. is investing “more than $734,000 to support the B.C. hate crimes unit by adding five additional RCMP officers and one intelligence analyst, increasing the unit’s capacity from two officers to a team of eight.”
The funding, the release noted, is part of the province’s $230-million investment into the provincial police service.
“Expanding this team will make a positive impact right across the province, strengthening the ability to address hate-related crimes, while also leading proactive initiatives that make our communities stronger,” said Chief Supt. Elija Rain, officer in charge of the B.C. RCMP major crime section.
“A larger diverse team helps us meet demands from our diverse communities and build on important partnerships with law enforcement, community groups and faith-based organizations,” he explained.
Police in B.C. reported hate crimes rose by 23 per cent from 2022 to 2023, the release noted.
“Specifically, hate crimes motivated by race or ethnicity increased by 12 per cent, those linked to religion surged by more than 50 per cent and incidents related to sexual orientation jumped by 43 per cent,” the release added.
Niki Sharma, B.C.’s attorney general, said that when people are “targeted because of who they are, they deserve to know that law enforcement is in their corner and that those responsible will be thoroughly investigated and held accountable.”
“This expanded support reflects our government’s commitment to standing up to hate and protecting people’s rights. It’s an investment in a safer, more inclusive B.C., where everyone can live with dignity and without fear,” she asserted.
According to the government’s announcement, the funding will “strengthen investigations throughout the criminal-justice process by ensuring police are equipped with the necessary information and required evidence for prosecutors to conduct thorough charge assessments.”
“It will also support court processes through expert testimony and help support witnesses and victims of hate-motivated crimes,” the release added.
The release also highlighted that Public Safety Canada is providing $4 million to the B.C. government through the Shift B.C. program, which “focuses on preventing radicalized violence by offering support to individuals at risk.”
“Funding is supporting eight police agencies and two non-profit agencies to build capacity and enhance operations to address public-order challenges, improve hate-crime reporting, bolster the safety and security of places of worship, and respond to threats that are motivated by extremism against elected public officials,” the release concluded, noting that B.C. is the only province that has a dedicated provincial hate crimes unit.
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