Domestic abuse cases are alarmingly high in Lanark and Renfrew counties, with significant increases in crisis calls and police reports. The Lanark County shelter's crisis line received 3,000 calls last year, a notable rise from previous years. Ontario Provincial Police reported an 18.1% increase in intimate partner violence from 2023 to 2024. New coordination between shelters and police represents a positive development, although a significant portion of abuse incidents remain unreported. Historical detachment between shelters and law enforcement is starting to change, leading to better support for victims.
"We're seeing an increase in our crisis calls, and so what we're finding is that people are calling about acts of violence. They're not calling to say, 'I'm a little bit concerned'. They're calling when they're in it," said Erin Lee, executive director of Lanark County Interval House.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say reports of intimate partner violence were up by 18.1 per cent in Ontario in 2024, with 6,289 compared to 5,326 in 2023. And that was 13.5 per cent higher than in 2022.
Is there a reality that there are more incidents? Yes. Is there a reality that the incidents are more volatile? Yes. And is there an increased awareness and more discussion happening about it? Absolutely," said Lee.
Historically, the relationship between women's shelters and police was complicated and somewhat detached. That's starting to change, said Lee, who notes they now get calls from the OPP to "mobilize a team" when victims contact police.
#domestic-abuse #intimate-partner-violence #community-agencies #law-enforcement-coordination #crisis-calls
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