7 graphs that tell the story of Hamilton hate crimes

Racially motivated offences made up the majority of hate crimes in Hamilton in 2014, and the city's black community continued to be the most common target, according to the latest police report.

Of the 121 hate incidents reported to police last year, 76 were directly related to racial bias, and 41 of them involved black victims, according to the hate crime unit's year-end report, which will be presented at the police board's meeting on Thursday.

"Regardless of which community is the highest targeted group, the impact is felt by the entire community of the City of Hamilton," the report read.

A hate crime involves offences motivated solely, or in part, by bias based on the victim's race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, any other similar factor, according to Hamilton police.

Here's a graphic look at some of the trends revealed in the annual report.

1. 63% of incidents are racially motivated

Almost two-thirds of the 121 hate incidents reported to police in 2014 — totalling 76 — were directly related to racial bias, according to the report. The second most common type was motivated by religion, followed by offences targeting sexual orientation.

These three categories have consistently been the most reported types of hate incidents, police said.

The categories of disability and age accounted for one incident each.

2. Black community is the most common target...again

More than half of the 76 hate incidents related to race or ethnicity were directed at the black community, which was also the most targeted group in 2013.

The South Asian community was the second most common target, which made up 18 per cent of the racially motivated incidents.

3. Not all hate incidents are considered hate crimes

Not all hate-motivated incidents are immediately labelled as hate crimes.

The vast majority of the 121 incidents reported to police — totalling 99 — involved offences that could not be proven to have been motivated solely, or in part, by hate or bias, but included some type of racial overtone, such as the use of racial slurs.

Nineteen incidents are considered hate crimes; the remaining three involved ambiguous motivations.

Although the total number of incidents reported in 2014 was virtually the same as 2013, which recorded 120 incidents, the number of incidents with overtones or ambiguous motivations decreased 8 per cent, from 111 to 102.

4. Number of hate crimes up from 2013

The number of hate crimes went up from 11 in 2013 to 19 in 2014.

Here's a look at the numbers of hate crimes over the past six years. There was a spike in 2011, which recorded 54 incidents.

5. Many hate crimes involved assault, utter threat

The report also broke down the incidents by their crime types. Assault and utter threat accounted for 15 out of 19 crimes. There were also three incidents of assault with weapon and one incident of causing disturbance.

In the following table, you can search for a specific crime, or sort the table alphabetically or numerically.

6. Graffiti most common

Here's a breakdown of the remaining 102 incidents, with graffiti being the most common type of offence.

Most of the graffiti offences took place on the streets, places of worship, city parts and at or near schools, police said.

7. Most hate crimes occured in downtown Hamilton

The report also broke down the hate crimes by police divisions.

More than three quarters of the 19 hate crimes took place in downtown Hamilton (Division 1), which has had the highest number of incidents for the past six years.

There were five incidents at the city's east end and Stoney Creek, which make up Division 2.

Only one hate crime occurred in Division 3, which covers Flamborough/Dundas, Ancaster, Binbrook, Glanbrook and the Hamilton mountain areas that house almost 50 per cent of the city's population.

What the numbers don't tell, however, is the emotional impact and residual effects of the incidents, police noted.

"Although the statistics from police reports provide a measure of quantity of incidents, the overall impact on each group can be profound regardless of the numbers," the report read.

Police also acknowledged secondary victims, such as family, friends and communities members who identify with the targeted groups.