Anti-Asian hate crime up 878% in Vancouver compared to last year

A Vancouver Police Department crime report says reports of anti-Asian hate crime rose by 878% in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the same time period last year.

The increase appears to be in lockstep with the coronavirus pandemic, when the virus that originated in China apparently fuelled racist harassment and assaults in Metro Vancouver and around the world.

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The VPD’s crime statistics report indicates reports of all hate crimes increased 116% compared to last year between January and September. But specifically anti-Asian hate crime saw a particularly large increase.

The report also noted intimate violent crime held relatively steady from 2019 to 2020, although intimate partner violence is at a all-time high in Vancouver.

Read the full report on the VPD’s website.