Rise in domestic violence incidents raises concern of Norfolk police board

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The rising number of intimate partner violence incidents investigated by Norfolk OPP has raised a red flag for members of the county’s police services board.  

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“I’m very concerned about the high increase reported recently of intimate partner violence,” said board chair Kim Huffman at a recent meeting.  

In August, Norfolk OPP officers investigated 60 domestic disputes, said Andrew Gamble, media relations officer with the force. That’s up from 41 incidents in August 2022.

Gamble said the numbers don’t reflect instances when criminal charges were laid. In those cases, the incidents are re-classified as assaults or threats, for example, and included with other charges that aren’t domestic-related.  

Since Jan. 1, Norfolk OPP officers have investigated 424 domestic disputes. Officers were called to a total of 506 incidents in 2022. Again, these numbers don’t reflect instances in which criminal charges were laid.

Insp. Andrew Tait, Norfolk OPP’s new detachment commander, said intimate partner violence is a “critical area with the OPP as far as our priorities.”

“I’m really stressing to our officers that it is a critical area we need to be in tune with from an investigative side. We will always be professional, compassionate, and empathetic to victims and lay appropriate charges.”

Gamble said the OPP works collaboratively with community partners and agencies to reduce incidents of intimate partner violence and to aid victims.

Tait said a growing number of intimate partner violence incidents are happening in communities across the province.  

“Society is still under a lot of stress after dealing with the worldwide pandemic and the economy,” said Huffman. “It’s kind of a perfect breeding ground, unfortunately, for the wheels to fall off for some people. We need to do our best to make sure we provide supports and keep everybody in our community safe.”

At a meeting in September, Haldimand County joined more than 40 other Ontario municipalities in officially declaring gender-based violence, which includes intimate partner violence and femicide, an epidemic.

Haldimand’s resolution noted that between April 2021 and March 2022, Haldimand and Norfolk Women’s Services received 632 crisis calls; 1,130 counselling calls and provided a safe place to stay for 116 survivors of gender-based violence and their children, while referring 227 survivors of violence to shelters elsewhere due to lack of local capacity.

“It’s pretty serious out there,” said Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley.  

Coun. Rob Shirton said he was hesitant to use the word epidemic to describe the situation since it has been “overused” since the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“I just don’t know if we’re at the epidemic stage,” said Shirton. “I think it just creates more fear in people.”

Coun. John Metcalfe agreed the “word epidemic has been used a lot in the last couple years, but talk to any police officer and most of the calls they’re being called to are a domestic violence issue.”

“It takes a lot of our resources,” said Metcalfe. “Maybe by using the strong language it can draw more attention to this issue and maybe the powers that be in Queen’s Park and its federal counterparts can pass a little stronger legislation.”

Haldimand CAO Cathy Case said the municipality declaring an epidemic gives local organizations involved in gender-based violence the ability to receive funding.

On Tuesday, Brantford councillors voted to move forward with declaring gender-based and intimate violence an epidemic in the city. The resolution calls for more resources and a community action plan to deal with the issue.