By James Wood

Medicine Hat Police Service releases hate crime statistics

Jun 28, 2017 | 11:13 AM

Hate crimes appear to be a non-issue in Medicine Hat, according to newly-released police data.

Earlier in June, the federal government released the police reported hate-crime statistics for the entire country, compiling occurrences from 2012 to 2015. The information showed a shifting level, with 1414 incidents occurring in 2012, 1165 in 2013, 1295 in 2014, and 1362 in 2015.

In 2014, 99 of those crimes were directed at Muslims, with another 159 in 2015.

Locally, however, the numbers were low. According to the data from the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS), only five hate crimes have taken place in the city since 2014, with zero in 2012 and one potential incident in 2013.

The 2013 incident occurred after a man was struck with a thrown object from a passing vehicle in the city. As the man was a visible minority, police looked at the matter as a potential hate crime, but no charges were laid.

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One occurrence took place in 2014, while there were none in 2015. Two occurred in 2016, while another two have happened this year. Of the five, four were incidents of hateful graffiti, with the last incident an alcohol-fuelled fight during which a racial slur was used.

MHPS Inspector Brent Secondiak described the graffiti as a low end, “one-off event”.

“That’s exactly what it was,” said Secondiak.

“Some graffiti is targeted or higher-end, this was probably just kids who had taken some paint and decided to walk down an alley and do something.”

No charges were laid beyond one of simple assault in the fight.

“They were with a group of friends, and one person became intoxicated, and said some racial slurs,” said Secondiak.

“There was a physical altercation, we did charge a male with assault, but the racial slurs charge and the hate-crime aspect, I think we spoke to the Crown about it but there were no hate-crime charges laid on that.”

As for the location of the graffiti, Secondiak indicated places of worship were not targeted. Overall, Secondiak said hate crimes were infrequent in Medicine Hat.

“We have a unit that specifically deals with the Muslim community in town, and I think we get along well with them,” said Secondiak.

“In fact, the police service played a group of Syrians, several of them were Muslims, in soccer not that long ago, and we have regular meetings with them. There’s been no overt acts, or something like that. A few social media, kind of targeted issues as well, but just general, nothing specific, nothing like a hate crime.”

Secondiak indicated that while city residents had different opinions, everyone seemed to get along.

“People are able to have their opinions, even though they may or may not agree with it,” said Secondiak.

“It doesn’t seem to resort to violence or anything like that here.”