Increased Montreal police presence since Israel-Hamas war has cost SPVM $1.7 million
Posted November 28, 2023 12:17 pm.
Last Updated November 28, 2023 1:08 pm.
The Montreal police (SPVM) force’s visibility plan to reduce the number of hate crimes committed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war has cost $1.7 million.
In a statement sent to CityNews, the SPVM said “this is the amount invested in overtime related to the visibility plan put in place around places of worship and other places of interest in the wake of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This plan aims to maintain peace and ensure the safety of all. Neighbourhood police stations provide constant presence in various sectors, in collaboration with various SPVM units.”
Between Oct. 7 and Nov. 21, 2023, the SPVM says there have been 107 reported hate incidents or crimes against the Jewish community, and 35 hate incidents or crimes reported against the Arabic-Muslim community.
This includes Jewish schools that were shot at three times as well as Molotov cocktails thrown at a synagogue and two other Jewish institutions. No one was injured in these events. There was some property damage.
In an interview with TVA Nouvelles on Monday, SPVM police chief Fady Dagher said the work is far from over.
“The fact that it’s repeating and continuing, we’re going to have to find a way […] that we can sit down together and talk about calm on both sides. It can’t go on at this rate,” he said.
The SPVM director also said that no arrests had been made in connection with the shootings at the Jewish schools and the Molotov cocktails targeting Jewish institutions.
