DESI HELPLINE
SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
Image credit: SNEHA SIVARAJAN on Unsplash.
Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Peel Region will now receive improved up-front care and referrals with the launch of the Safe Centre Response Teams.
This pilot program is developed through collaboration between Safe Centre of Peel and Peel Regional Police. Two response teams comprised of a mobile support worker with experience in gender-based violence and a specially trained police constable, will provide appropriate, timely and complex care and support in intimate partner incidents. This initial response will ensure victim safety, early intervention and supporting individuals and families to receive the help they may need.
The key function of the Safe Centre Response Team is to:
• Connect families with existing community services to help stabilize the family situation over the short term and help increase their resiliency over the extended period.
• Help bridge the gap between identifying risk factors and direct intervention, thereby reducing the number of families looking for help being overlooked.
• Ensure a range of existing prevention and intervention services are provided in a timely manner, to reduce the risk of harm and increase the safety of family members.
In 2021, 17,000 calls for service were related to Family and Intimate Partner Violence in Peel Region, which translates to an average of 45 disputes reported per day – or about two every hour. Between 2016 and 2021, the rate of intimate partner violence increased by 3.5 per cent.
Safe Centre Response Teams have been created in response to this significant public health and safety issue.
SCRT teams will rotate on 12-hour shifts and be dispatched to non-criminal, nonviolent calls focused on intimate partner violence and are a part of the continuing evolution of the Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plan.
“The Safe Centre Response team is yet another new pathway in service delivery for our community,” said Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “This non-traditional response will provide compassionate, upfront care, referrals and resources for people in need and address intimate partner incidents. These teams will bridge the gap that currently exists between initial in-crisis response and the provision of complex care typically provided post-incident by community human service providers. We are committed to delivering on our Community Safety and Well-Being strategy by continually seeking new partnerships and programs, such as the Safe Centre Response Team, to better meet the needs of our community.”
“The Safe Centre Response Teams will be a game-changer in supporting women in Mississauga who are at risk of intimate partner violence,” said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “This pilot will ensure that the individuals in domestic disputes are connected to the help that they need before further harm takes place. Domestic violence incidents continue to be the top call for service, and I commend Peel Regional Police and the Safe Centre of Peel for their leadership and commitment to addressing this issue in our community. Domestic violence does not discriminate and the only way we can help end the cycle of abuse is connecting families with the help that they need to keep them and our community safe.”