DOMESTIC CONFLICT
Police to boost training, services
I think you have to have other people who are experienced that you can talk to.
With domestic violence incidents increasing in the city, the Regina Police Service and its partners have announced an improved response to the problem.
City police have noticed an increase in the number of policereported cases of domestic conflict — the term police are now using as it speaks to behaviours beyond the violence most commonly associated with “domestic violence.”
In 2012, police responded to about 14 domestic conflict-related calls daily; between 2015 and the first quarter of 2017, that number had risen to 17. In general, city police report they are responding to about a thousand more domestic conflict-related calls per year than they did five years ago.
“It is a problem, there’s no question about it,” Chief Evan Bray said following the Wednesday announcement. “We have one of the highest rates of domestic violence and domestic-related assaults in Canada, and our province is challenged with this issue as well. It’s not just our city, but we need to take a leadership role in it.”
To a packed room, Bray outlined improvements to service delivery for those affected by domestic conflict, measures that include updated policy; annual training for frontline officers and communications staff; improved supervisory oversight; better environments for victims to report incidents; connecting victims with community-based supports sooner; recognition of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action; and the creation of a website that brings together resources for victims.
Bray added improvements to communication will make it easier for those on separate shifts to immediately recognize the context of concerns with a specific address or individual — a process that currently has its challenges.
As well, he noted enhanced training will ensure officers recognize the depth to domestic conflict calls, which can come with years of backstory.
“Simply by holding an offender accountable and walking away, all you’re really doing is putting a bandaid on a much bigger problem,” Bray said. “So this training really allows our members to better understand how trauma can affect victim recollection of events and a victim’s willingness to report to police.”
He said the hope is the improvements will also create more trust in police, so victims will report and open the door to interventions and needed supports.
Jen Renwick with Family Service Regina’s domestic violence unit believes the improvements will have a positive impact not just on victims, but on offenders and on the children of the relationship.
“By and large (the RPS) do a very good job,” she said. “Most of the officers are responding appropriately and they’re making the victims feel as if they can come forward ... Certainly they have made gains in that way over the past few years. It just keeps getting better and better, and this new domestic conflict policy is only going to make that even greater.”
City councillor Barbara Young, who sits on the Board of Police Commissioners, said she was pleased with the improvements — particularly given her acknowledgment she was a victim of domestic conflict years ago.
“There was nothing like this 40 years ago, 50 years ago,” she said. “You just didn’t talk about it, and you didn’t want people to know about it. And there was really no place you could go ...
“I don’t think you think your way out of this alone. I think you have to have other people who are experienced that you can talk to, who can understand what’s happening. So I think this shines a light on it ... I think we need to talk about it. I think people need to be comfortable talking about it so they can get the help that they need, and also that we can see it happening and intervene if we need to do that, or at least ask if we can help.”