Report Hate Crimes in Burnaby - Police & City Staff
In Burnaby, British Columbia, public safety and civil-rights concerns about hate-motivated incidents are addressed by police and City staff working together. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. For non-emergencies, report criminal conduct to the local police detachment and report City-related incidents or concerns about discrimination to municipal staff so the right enforcement or support follow-up can be arranged.
Penalties & Enforcement
Criminal hate offences are prosecuted under the Criminal Code of Canada; specific criminal penalties (for example, imprisonment terms or indictable offence classification) are set in federal law and applied by Crown counsel and the courts. Criminal Code s.319[1]
Municipal bylaws do not typically create criminal hate offences; bylaw teams enforce local rules such as signage, public behaviour in parks, or discrimination-related municipal policy breaches where a bylaw applies. Where the city’s bylaws or policies apply, City of Burnaby By-law Enforcement or relevant civic departments handle compliance and administrative remedies.
Typical enforcement roles
- Police (Burnaby RCMP) investigate criminal allegations, gather evidence, and refer matters to Crown counsel for charge assessment. Burnaby RCMP detachment[2]
- City of Burnaby By-law Enforcement addresses municipal bylaw breaches and may issue tickets or orders when a bylaw is contravened. By-law Enforcement[3]
- Victims and witnesses may also contact provincial or federal human-rights bodies for policy-based complaints where appropriate.
Penalties
- Monetary fines: for criminal hate offences the Criminal Code does not set simple municipal fines; criminal sanctions and fines are determined through court processes — specific municipal fine amounts for bylaw breaches are not specified on the cited City page.
- Imprisonment: federal criminal offences such as willful promotion of hatred are punishable under the Criminal Code; see the federal statute for exact terms. Criminal Code s.319[1]
- Non-monetary sanctions: court orders, probation, restitution, and municipal orders to remedy bylaw contraventions are possible; details are case-specific and set by the enforcing authority or the court.
Escalation, appeals and time limits
Escalation from warning to ticket to prosecution depends on the enforcing agency and the nature of the conduct. Appeal routes differ: criminal matters proceed through the court system and appeal courts; municipal tickets and orders typically have administrative or provincial appeal windows. Specific deadlines and procedures for appeals or reviews should be confirmed with the issuing agency because they are not specified on the cited City page.
Defences and discretion
Police and prosecutors exercise discretion in charging and may consider defences or contextual factors such as intent, evidence, or lawful exceptions. Municipal officers may allow remedial compliance measures or variances where bylaws permit.
Applications & Forms
To file a police report you will generally use in-person reporting at the detachment or the police non-emergency contact method listed by the detachment; for City-level complaints follow the By-law Enforcement or relevant department complaint process. No single municipal form for "hate crimes" is published on the cited City enforcement page; criminal reporting follows police reporting procedures.[2]
How to
Practical steps to report a hate-motivated incident in Burnaby and help enforcement act effectively.
- Ensure immediate safety: call 911 if there is danger or violence.
- Contact the Burnaby RCMP detachment to report criminal conduct and request an investigation; provide names, locations, and chronology. Burnaby RCMP detachment[2]
- Preserve evidence: save messages, photos, videos, names of witnesses, and the exact wording used by the perpetrator.
- Report related municipal concerns (for example, discriminatory signage or facilities access issues) to City of Burnaby By-law Enforcement or the appropriate civic department. By-law Enforcement[3]
- Follow up: ask for a file number, obtain a copy of the police report, and check appeal or review timelines if you receive an administrative notice.
FAQ
- Who do I call to report a hate crime?
- Call 911 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, contact the Burnaby RCMP detachment to file a police report; City staff can be contacted for municipal concerns.
- Can the City of Burnaby fine someone for a hate crime?
- Criminal hate offences are prosecuted under federal law; the City may enforce bylaws where a municipal rule is broken, but criminal penalties come from the courts.
- What evidence should I collect?
- Collect dates, times, witness names, photos or video, screenshots, and any physical evidence; provide these to police when reporting.
Key Takeaways
- For crimes in Burnaby, police investigate and Crown counsel prosecutes under the Criminal Code.
- Preserve evidence and obtain a police file number when you report.
Help and Support / Resources
- Burnaby RCMP detachment - contact and reporting information
- City of Burnaby - By-law Enforcement
- BC Human Rights Tribunal
- Criminal Code of Canada - section 319 (hate propaganda)
