Peel police have launched a new hate crimes unit they hope will improve support to victims and build deeper trust with the region's diverse communities.
The unit aims to provide a "culturally responsive approach" to community safety, according Mark Dapat, Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief of community safety and well-being , who oversees the centralized unit of 10 dedicated officers.
Dapat said the unit will address hate-motivated crimes involving religious institutions and cultural centres, as well as those stemming from social and geopolitical tensions.
'We've been listening to our community," Dapat told CBC Toronto. "They feel sometimes during the judicial process they're lost in the system."
Unit to solve crimes and prevent them: deputy chief
Dapat said the unit, which will lead