Residents of Chatham-Kent now have a new tool to report hate and discrimination.
Chatham-Kent Victim Services launched the community reporting tool on Tuesday to allow citizens to report acts of hate and discrimination across the municipality.
Residents can go to the Chatham-Kent Victim Services website if they choose to not report hateful and discriminatory incidents to the police.
The new reporting tool will share information with the public to better respond to hate and discrimination.
Incidents that warrant reporting include harassment, intimidation, threats, denial of services, and witnessing or seeing vandalism aimed at them or the community at large because of their race, ethnic origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disabilities, or other identities.
Reports can be submitted anonymously or by providing contact information and indicating if personal support is required.
Chatham-Kent Victim Services noted emotional support and referrals to appropriate community resources can be provided to those reporting incidents who need support.
CK Victim Services said it has professional Crisis Support staff and trained volunteer Crisis Responders to offer support, adding the volunteers are trained in trauma-informed care and principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
"Hate has no home in Chatham-Kent, but we know hate and discrimination is happening in our communities. Ensuring people have the support they need is essential to healing and recovery," said CK Victim Services Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Brown. "We are proud to be launching this tool so people can receive support. The data collected from the tool will help us continue building a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse community and respond appropriately to hate and discrimination."
Click here to submit a report.
"We know that many people don’t report experiences motivated by hate or bias directed at them just because of who they are. Reporting to the police is still an option, but this new reporting tool gives people a different way to get support," Chatham-Kent's Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Rebecca Haskell-Thomas said. "And, the combined and anonymous information from the reports will help us see trends to understand better what is happening in the community and how we can work together to promote a safe and inclusive Chatham-Kent for everyone."
Residents who don't want to report online can call CK Victim Services at 519-436-6630 and leave a message indicating their wish to make a report.
CK Victim Services said those who leave a message will get a call back within three business days and that all of the information given to them will stay confidential, unless a client agrees the information could be shared with other community partners.
"We hope this tool will aid in fostering a community where every individual feels safe and respected, and where community culture and connections thrive," said Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership Project Coordinator Peter Sulman.
Chatham-Kent Victim Services consulted with several local organizations, groups, and advocates on how they might like the tool to work following a meeting with the Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership Anti-Racism Working Group in May 2022.
"I believe that the launch of an online hate and discrimination reporting tool by Victim Services is a significant step towards making our communities more inclusive and safer. It will empower individuals to report incidents of hatred and intolerance and allow us, as a community, to provide support and take necessary actions to address these issues," said Chatham-Kent Police Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Sergeant Lynette Hodder.
