WRPS and Women’s Crisis Services team up to enhance supports to victims of intimate partner violence

Waterloo Regional Police and the Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR) are planning to extend the Early Intervention Program aimed at enhancing services to victims of intimate partner violence.

The pilot program, launched in June 2022, sees members of the WRPS Intimate Partner Violence Unit team up with members of WCSWR to offer victims of intimate partner violence greater wraparound support after an incident and to help reduce the cycle of violence, police said in a release.

In 2022, WRPS received more than 6,000 intimate partner violence calls for service, resulting in more than 3,800 charges.

In the first six months of the program, staff took part in 68 interventions in which contact is made with a couple to offer help and support. As well, 43 individuals had no additional police calls for service, 18 individuals had a reduction in police calls for service, and 89 per cent of the individuals who received an intervention experienced a positive change.

“The program is showing promising results,” said Jennifer Hutton,

CEO of Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. “As part of the program, we have an outreach worker who is available to provide ongoing support to families in need. The sooner we can reach these families, the better.”

Both the WRPS and WCSWR are members of the Family Violence Project of Waterloo Region, a collaboration of agencies that provide full services to victims at one central location at 400 Queen St. S. in Kitchener.

“The early intervention pilot is a great opportunity for the police service to work with a key community partner to address intimate partner violence in an upstream fashion,” said Staff Sgt. Jamie Brosseau of the WRPS Intimate Partner Violence Unit. “Helping partners avoid the escalation of disputes by referring them to programs available in our region is a key strategy for reducing intimate partner violence. We are excited to see the full outcome of the pilot.”

The Early Intervention Program is set to continue throughout 2023 with the hopes of expanding it in the years to come.

Police note that if you are experiencing intimate partner violence or know someone who may be, help is available – call 9-1-1 or the non-emergency line at 519-5709777.

If you would like support making a safety plan, please connect with WCSWR through its 24/7 support line: 519-7425894.