Editor’s note: this story contains information about intimate partner violence. If you need help, see below for a list of resources
The Sarnia Police Service is collaborating with community partners to adopt a more trauma-informed approach to intimate partner violence (IPV) investigations, thanks to funding through the province’s Victim Support Grant (VSG) program.
The $99,000 grant helped provide front line officers and support staff with trauma-informed training through the Sexual Assault Survivor Centre Sarnia-Lambton (SASCSL). It also allows for the integration of a Victim Services coordinator to review incidents of IPV and provide ongoing outreach and support to victims survivors.
“During the last several years there has been a big shift to a victim-centered approach,” Sarnia Police Det. Alex Cunningham said of IPV investigations, which are on the rise locally — including nearly 430 incidents in 2022. “This means a bigger emphasis on empathy, support and understanding.
“This kind of training helps myself and other officers understand the psychological impact of trauma, and as a result, improves interactions with victims.”
The funding also allowed police to extend training opportunities to community partners like Victim Services, and to neighbouring police services including Chatham-Kent, Strathroy-Caradoc and St. Thomas, said Dep. Police Chief Julie Craddock, who noted a shift in language around IPV.
“It used to be called domestic violence, and I think that led people to believe that they had to be in some type of very traditional marital type of relationship,” she said. “It's really between partners, where there's been that intimate relationship either historically or currently.”
The shift in language also helps broaden protections for Trans and Queer-identified victims of IPV seeking to report.
“It doesn't necessarily mean that they're in a current intimate relationship; it can also mean there has been an intimate relationship in the past,” said Craddock.
In total, 56 people participated in awareness presentations on IPV, while 22, including ten officers, completed ‘B-SAFER’ training — a guide for assessing risk for spousal assault in criminal and civil justice (i.e., forensic) settings.
IPV investigations can be violent and unpredictable for first responders, police explained, pointing to the often unpredictable nature of the calls, and compounding factors like financial stress, substance abuse, mental health issues, past trauma and violence.
“As we see increases in mental health and addiction, or… the pressures on families in order to really just make ends meet in terms of providing food and housing… we are seeing those underlying risk factors that are then manifesting into a call for service for an intimate or family violence type of situation,” said Craddock.
Cunningham said IPV situations often escalate rapidly; adding the potential for weapons increases risk for those involved.
“The possibility of a situation turning violent adds an element of danger that keeps myself and most officers on edge,” he said. “Understanding the underlying causes is crucial for de-escalation, but it's not always immediately apparent, adding an extra layer of complexity to the response.”
The whole basis of the training was trauma informed approaches — everything from providing tissues and water to survivors — to how to make the reporting process easier.
“We talked about how scary it is to approach an officer with a sexual assault, for many reasons… and it's re-traumatising,” explained SASCSL public education coordinator Trish Vanoosterom. “So we talked about that re-traumatising experience and how to maybe help gently debrief or gently have supports available for [survivors] instead of just ending an investigation.
Ensuring the Sarnia Police Service has the ability to interview victims in a ‘soft’ interview room — one that is comfortable and welcoming — is of top priority, explained Cunningham.
“I would like to see our interview facilities upgraded as technology improves, in order to ensure we are able to document the victims’ stories to our fullest capability,” he said. “If the police can provide the courts the best evidence with the most up-to-date technology and methods, it gives the judicial system the best chance of handling the case once it’s out of the police’s hands.”
Vanoosterom says she hopes survivors will feel more comfortable approaching police.
“The reality is, a lot of survivors aren't coming forward,” she said, pointing to lengthy court timelines and low conviction rates. “If someone is like, ‘yes, I want to charge, I'm ready, I've got this,’ and they know they can go in and have trauma-informed care by the detective that's taking their statement, I do think that that would help ease that a little bit.”
“We have a great partnership with police, Sarnia and OPP. We are doing as much as we can to bridge gaps for survivors, which is awesome.”
Resources:
Sexual Assault Survivors Centre Sarnia-Lambton
24/7 Crisis line: 519-337-3320 (1-888-231-0536)
Direct: 519-337-3154
Victim Services of Sarnia Lambton
519-344-8861 ext. 5238
Email: [email protected]
Women’s Interval Home
519-336-5200 (1-800-265-1412)
Sarnia Police
Emergency: 911
Non-emergency: 519-344-8861