Intimate partner violence pilot program in Sudbury to become permanent

Greater Sudbury police say a specialized unit tackling intimate partner violence is now permanent after a successful pilot.

Greater Sudbury Police is making a unit focused on combating intimate partner violence a permanent part of its policing efforts.

On Wednesday, the police services board heard from Barbara Ridley, the executive director of the Salvation Army’s Cedar Place Women and Families Shelter.

Ridley said that about 98 per cent of the women and children who have stayed in the shelter have been victims of IPV.

Although the shelter provides housing for women and children experiencing homelessness, Ridley said IPV is prevalent among those receiving help.

Genevra House, operated by the YWCA Sudbury, cares for women leaving abusive relationships. Both shelters are at capacity almost every night.

Cedar Place has to turn away an average of 170 women a month because it’s at capacity.

“Nearly all the individuals that we serve have experienced coercive behaviours and intimate partner abuse,” Ridley said.

“I do not need to share with you the increasing demands that have been placed upon the police department.”

Sudbury joined other communities across the province more than two years ago in declaring IPV an epidemic.

To help address the problem, Sudbury police began a one-year pilot project last summer that created a specific unit just for IPV cases. It includes a sergeant and four constables.

Police also added virtual choice reporting for victims and conducted 30 interviews during the pilot program using the online method.

“That means people can actually go online and make the report and they don’t have to come in person,’ said police board chair Gerry Lougheed.

Online reporting

“For some people -- I think especially a woman that’s been abused -- to maybe come into a police building could be a bit intimidating. So doing it online is working.”

Chief Sara Cunningham said that in the past six months, the unit has dealt with 511 IPV calls and made 56 IPV-related arrests.

Having a unit dedicated to IPV cases saved an estimated 1,700 hours of police time, she added.

“They’re doing a fabulous job,” Cunninham said.

As a result, she told the board the pilot program would become permanent -- and likely be expanded.

“This is a serious issue for our community and as a board we want to provide as much support and resources as possible,” Lougheed said.

However, the board agreed that more work still needs to be done since police still get an average of eight IPV calls a day.

“We are just one of many partners in the community that are very passionate about this work,” said deputy chief Natalie Hiltz.

“We just really want to do everything we can to enhance our own service delivery, whether it’s preventative and also in support of victims in intimate partner violence.”

Hiltz told the board that work is underway by police and other community partners to create a ‘one-stop-shop’ where victims of IPV would be able to connect with services (legal, financial, housing, etc.) and support.

But she was tight-lipped on when that would be put in place.