In a joint pilot project three provincial victim services staff and Winnipeg Police will be working together to better support families experiencing domestic violence.
The three Manitoba Justice staff will be located at the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters during the pilot. The hope is the project will allow better integration between officers and victim services workers to collaborate and determine the most appropriate outreach after domestic incidents where no charges are laid.
“Our partnership with WPS will create an integrated response model that ensures home remains a safe place for everyone. This means that when a call for support occurs, victim services is there right away to provide the needed resources,” said Justice Minister Cameron Friesen.
Friesen noted that one of the victim services workers will also be connected to the new Family Resolution Service who have questions related to separation and divorce. The Family Resolution Service provides support and information to families involved in the family law process.
The minister noted that WPS officers and victim services workers will jointly respond to non-violent, low risk calls to police. “Having both police and victim services staff on the same call will provide families with a quicker, more efficient response, often within the hour. In the past, a police unit was deployed and incidents are referred to Victim Services for followup, which often resulted in delays,” Friesen said.
“The pilot project will allow the WPS to provide a better response and help reduce future escalation by providing the caller with additional resources, and a more collaborative and streamlined intervention,” said Chief Danny Smyth, Winnipeg Police Service.
© News4.ca 2021
