OPP host Domestic Violence Investigator course

OPP News Release

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This week the Ontario Provincial Police is hosting a Domestic Violence Investigators course in the city. Twenty-eight police officers, both front-line and supervisory, are building their investigative skills in the area of domestic violence investigations.

The Ontario government marks November as Woman Abuse Prevention Month. The month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about violence against women and its prevention.

• 7% of Ontario women living in a common-law or marital relationship experienced physical/sexual assault by a spousal partner at least once during the period of 1999-2004.

• There have been approximately 25 female victims of spousal homicide each year in Ontario from 1975-2004.

• Almost 40% of women assaulted by spouses said their children witnessed the violence against them, and in many cases the violence was severe.

Course participants will liaise with a Victim Services panel, discuss the impact of inquest recommendations on Domestic Violence Policy (May-Iles), study reports from the Domestic Violence Death Review, work through a number of domestic violence scenarios and address legal issues.

“When you see the pain in the face of a child who has been traumatized by family violence you want to do everything you can to prevent that pain,” explains Detective Sergeant Laura Houliston – North East Region Abuse Issues Coordinator. “Working in partnerships, the police and the community can deal more effectively with the social order problems than either can do on its own.”

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