The 2021 pilot project to better support families experiencing intimate partner violence has proven to be effective and will be made permanent said Manitoba Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen.
The project was set up between the province and the Winnipeg Police Service and saw specialized staff from Manitoba Justice work out of police headquarters to help facilitate a more coordinated response.
Officers and victim services staff worked together to determine the most appropriate outreach for families who contact police over domestic incidents that are non-criminal.
“Our government remains committed to ensuring public safety and providing a continuum of intervention for families experiencing or at risk of intimate partner violence in partnership with police and community-based resources,” said Goertzen. “The results of this pilot project indicate that this approach has succeeded in delivering a more effective, efficient intervention through timely, integrated service to Manitoba families in need.”
The minister noted, “Having both police and victim services staff on the same call provides families with a faster, more efficient response, often within the hour. In the past, a police unit was deployed, and incidents were referred to Victim Services for follow-up, which often resulted in delays.”
“This partnership has allowed us to build strong relationships to ensure individuals who call police for lower-risk intimate partner incidents receive a compassionate response in a timely manner,” said Insp. Eric Luke, Winnipeg Police Service. “The WPS is committed to this collaboration with Victim Services, which allows for early intervention to help prevent escalation and potentially volatile situations.”
