Police ‘assessing’ if more patrols needed in Jewish communities for October 7 anniversary in Mississauga and Brampton

Some Ontario police forces will be out in Jewish communities ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel, but officers are still “assessing” whether similar moves are needed in Mississauga and Brampton.

Hate crimes against Jews have increased some 69 per cent in Toronto since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel in 2023 that saw around 250 hostages taken and about 1,200 people killed and sparked a conflict that’s killed some 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The one-year anniversary of the attack is on Monday, and with regular protests and demonstrations in Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton since the fighting began the Toronto Police Services says it will have an increased presence of undercover and uniformed officers and marker police cruisers and across the city.

“We know world events always have an impact here at home,” TPS Police Chief Myron Demkiw said on Wednesday. “This includes the potential for increased protest activity and acts of violence.”

And while Toronto cops will have command posts stationed in Jewish neighbourhoods and at “various mosques across the city,” police in Peel have yet to say if they will follow suit.

“We are aware of the concerns surrounding this weekend and are currently assessing the situation to determine the best response to suit our community,” a spokesperson for Peel Regional Police told INsauga.com.

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Peel police have responded to several demonstrations in Mississauga and Brampton since the conflict began, including a Liberal Party fundraiser with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met by a large crowd of protesters outside a banquet hall in Mississauga on Friday evening.

In July, over 100 activists blocked access to a Brampton-based military vehicle manufacturing plant to call on the company to cancel the export of equipment to Israel.

Year-to-date, Chief Myron Demkiw’s force has fielded reports of 350 hate crimes, a 40 per cent increase over the first nine months of last year.

Demkiw said all hate crimes in Toronto have jumped some 40 per cent since Oct. 7, 2023 with “many different communities” targeted but “the greatest increase has been against the Jewish community by 69 per cent.”

There is no one specific “hate crime” in the Criminal Code, however, crimes found to be hate-motivated can come with tougher penalties.

Anyone who feels they have been the victim of a hate-motivated crime can contact the Peel Regional Police Hate-Motivated Crime Hotline at (905)-456-5905.

Anonymous tips may also be provided to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or visiting www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.