Windsor police have revealed a new weapon in the battle against intimate partner violence (IPV).
On Wednesday, Windsor police announced a new partnership with Family Services Windsor-Essex (FSWE), geared toward reducing the number of incidents.
Windsor police Inspector Andrew Randall said that the IPV Early Intervention and Prevention Program makes it easier for victims to get the support they need.
"Intimate partner violence has been declared an epidemic that impacts individuals and families throughout our community and across Canada," said Randall. "This partnership provides us with an important new tool to curb this disturbing trend and empower victims to better protect themselves from harm."
The partnership, which had a soft launch last month, involves police forwarding IPV complaints without criminal charges to the FSWE early intervention initiative. Once the FSWE secures consent from the victim, their representatives will follow up to access specific needs. Referrals to counseling, safety planning, and other programs may follow.
Ciara Holmes, FSWE Director of Mental Health and Counseling Programs, said that stepping in early is key, to ensure the situation does not escalate.
"This program represents a vital step in our commitment to preventing intimate partner violence and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our community members," said Holmes. "By intervening early, we can provide the necessary support to those in need and help stop the escalation of conflicts."
Since the program began, police referred 22 people for support resources.
Windsor police reported on Wednesday that so far this year, there were over 600 IPV complaints that did not result in arrests or criminal charges.