Violence in Middle East

Keeping our community informed

Updates on the York Regional Police response to our community's needs in light of violence in the Middle East will be published on this page. 

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Statements from York Regional Police

York Regional Police redeploying resources in response to reduced community attendance

November 22, 2023

In response to reduced community attendance, York Regional Police is redeploying frontline resources that have been stationed in the south end to better serve our citizens.

Since October 13, police have deployed two command posts, one stationary and one mobile, at community hubs in the region’s south end, allowing our officers to engage citizens, take reports and discuss concerns in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict and its effect on local residents.

Directed patrols, including the redeployment of the mobile police presence, will continue to contribute to community engagement and increase public safety. This redeployment is effective immediately.

Additional patrols to increase police visibility and opportunities for community outreach, centred on synagogues and mosques, faith-based locations and institutions, community centres, educational facilities and other local gathering places will continue indefinitely. These efforts will remain especially important as we approach Hanukkah.

Anyone looking to report a crime or outline a concern in their community should call the non-emergency line at 1-866-876-5423 or speak to an officer at their local district station.

York Regional Police is reminding the community we will not tolerate any form of hate crime or the threat of violence against anyone. All reports of hate crime or hate/bias incidents will be investigated thoroughly. If you witness or have been the victim of a hate crime or hate/bias incident, report it to police immediately.

For more information and future updates on the organization’s evolving response, visit our website.

Command posts in region's south end to be replaced by frontline cruisers

November 8, 2023

York Regional Police is advising the community that the two command posts deployed in the region’s south end will be replaced by frontline cruisers staffed with officers effective November 8, 2023.

YRP is committed to our community outreach due to ongoing violence in the Middle East. Officers will continue to be on site to take reports and discuss community concerns every day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Additional police patrols will continue through the day and evening hours to increase visibility and provide reassurance to residents. The focus will continue to be synagogues and mosques, additional faith-based locations and institutions, as well as community centres, faith-based educational facilities and other local gathering places. Representatives from Victim Services of York Region will continue to be available as needed.

York Regional Police continues to co-ordinate with our federal and provincial partners and no credible threat has been identified within the region at this time. However, we are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to deploy police resources strategically.

Second mobile command post deployed in community

October 23, 2023

York Regional Police is increasing its community outreach with the deployment of a second command post to address security concerns expressed by residents as a result of the ongoing violence in the Middle East.

The York Regional Police RIDE truck will be deployed this week as a second, mobile command post and will remain in the community until Monday, October 30, 2023. The existing command post will remain at the Promenade Shopping Centre in Thornhill. Both command posts will be staffed each day between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

On Tuesday, October 24 and Wednesday, October 25, the mobile command post will be located at Canada’s Wonderland, at 1 Canada’s Wonderland Drive, in the area of Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan, in the east parking lot. On Thursday, October 26 and Friday, October 27, it will be located at the Armadale Community Centre, 2401 Denison Street, in the City of Markham. On Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29, the mobile command post will be located at Hillcrest Mall, at 9350 Yonge Street, in the area of Rutherford Road and Yonge Street in the City of Richmond Hill.

Officers staffing both command posts will continue to engage citizens, take reports and discuss community concerns with citizens. Representatives from Victim Services of York Region will be available as needed. Additional police patrols will continue through the day and evening hours to increase visibility and provide reassurance to residents. The focus will continue to be synagogues and mosques, additional faith-based locations and institutions, as well as community centres, faith-based educational facilities and other local gathering places.

York Regional Police continues to co-ordinate with our federal and provincial partners and no credible threat has been identified within the region at this time. However, we are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to deploy police resources strategically. York Regional Police continues to share an open dialogue with community and faith leaders. We understand the feelings of conflict and pain in our community as events around the world continue to be felt here in York Region. We will continue to assess and reassess the impact that global events are having on our communities.

We are reminding the public that we have zero tolerance for incidents motivated by hate in our community and we will thoroughly investigate any reports of hate-motivated offences, incidents or acts. We are also asking citizens to contact us by email at demonstrations@yrp.ca if they learn about possible demonstrations or other large gatherings happening in our region.

Command Post to remain in Thornhill another week

October 16, 2023

York Regional Police is advising residents that the command post located at Promenade Shopping Centre will remain operational until at least Monday, October 23, 2023.

In light of security concerns expressed by our community as a result of the violence in the Middle East, the command post located at 1 Promenade Circle in Thornhill will continue to be staffed each day between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Officers are engaging citizens, taking reports and discussing community concerns with citizens. Representatives from Victim Services of York Region are also available during command post hours.

We remind our community that in co-ordination with our federal and provincial partners, York Regional Police has not identified a credible threat within the region at this time. However, we are actively monitoring the situation and will continue to deploy police resources strategically, including additional patrols to increase police visibility around synagogues and mosques, additional faith-based locations and institutions, as well as community centres, faith-based educational facilities and other local gathering places.

There is zero tolerance for incidents motivated by hate in our community. We will thoroughly investigate any reports of hate-motivated offences, incidents or acts. If you witness or have been the victim of a hate crime or hate/bias incident, report it to York Regional Police immediately.

If citizens learn about possible demonstrations or other large gatherings happening in our region, please let us know by email at demonstrations@yrp.ca.

York Regional Police continues to share an open dialogue with community and faith leaders. We understand and appreciate the feelings of conflict and pain in our community as events around the world continue to be felt here in York Region. We will continue to assess and reassess the impact that global events are having on our communities to ensure that we are meeting their needs.

If there’s an emergency, please call 9-1-1. For other incidents, please call the non-emergency line at 1-866-876-5423. 

Statement on online calls for civil unrest

October 11, 2023

York Regional Police wishes to reassure citizens that the organization is taking significant measures to ensure citizens feel safe and secure in light of calls for civil unrest globally.

On October 11, York Regional Police became aware of global online threats circulating about events that may occur on Friday.

In co-ordination with our federal and provincial partners, York Regional Police has not identified a credible threat to Jewish communities within the region at this time.

York Regional Police is actively monitoring the situation and has deployed police resources strategically. Officers have been assigned to additional patrols in neighbourhoods to increase police visibility and opportunities for community outreach. People can expect to see increased police presence in their communities.

These patrols will centre on synagogues and mosques, additional faith-based locations and institutions, as well as community centres, faith-based educational facilities and other local gathering places.

York Regional Police understands and appreciates feelings of conflict and pain in our community as events around the world continue to be felt here in York Region. We will continue to assess and reassess the impact that global events are having on our communities to ensure that York Regional Police meets the needs of its community.

See something? Hear something? Report it to police

Report all crime to police

If you have information about a crime, or if you have seen someone commit a crime, police need to know about it. Any criminal act in our region must be reported immediately to York Regional Police.

If you witness an emergency or a crime in progress, or know of a serious crime that has just occurred, call 9-1-1.

If you are reporting a crime with no suspect or when no suspect is present, or wish to report another non-emergency event, call the non-emergency line at 1-866-876-5423.

Learn more about how and when to contact police.

Demonstrations, protests and rallies

Have you learned about a demonstration or other large gathering happening in our region? Let York Regional Police know by email to demonstrations@yrp.ca.

York Regional Police is committed to providing an unbiased approach to the preservation of peace and the prevention of crimes at any lawful demonstration, protest or rally.

Hate crime and hate/bias incidents

York Regional Police will not tolerate any form of hate crime or the threat of violence against anyone. All reports of hate crime or hate/bias incidents will be investigated thoroughly.

If you witness or have been the victim of a hate crime or hate/bias incident, report it to York Regional Police immediately.

Security Camera Registry

The Security Camera Registry gives members of the community the option to let York Regional Police know they have installed residential or commercial security cameras which may assist police if a crime occurs later in that area. It helps to expedite an investigation when officers are searching for available surveillance footage from a home or business.

Learn more about the registry and consider signing up today.