Peel Regional Police are responding to an increasing number of domestic calls, according to a report recently presented to the Peel Police Services Board.
The 2010 Domestic Violence Report, made public on Sept. 23, shows a six per cent increase in the number of domestic calls police responded to last year (14,113) compared to 2009 (13,319).
Of the 2010 calls, 1,893 resulted in charges being laid, up from 1,835 in 2009, while more than 6,600 were strictly occurrences between intimate partners where charges weren't laid.
In addition, more than 5,500 calls were "family dispute occurrences" involving family members other than "intimate partners."
"Since 2007, domestic violence statistics have shown a modest increase, consistent with the expected norms and factoring population increases," said Det. Rick Hawes, author of the report, who works in the Family Violence Unit. "A contributing factor in this stability is the zero tolerance/mandatory charge approach towards domestic violence adopted by Peel Regional Police."
Mandatory charging guidelines were set out a few years ago by the Ontario government.
"They are strictly adhered to," Hawes said. "Where reasonable grounds exist to believe that an offence has occurred within an intimate partner relationship, charges shall be laid."
Hawes said 367 police personnel received training in domestic violence issues last year.
"A growing, diverse population continues to present a significant challenge to Peel Regional Police from a family violence perspective," Hawes wrote in his report. "With over 100 languages being spoken in the region, front-line police personnel face unique difficulties in assessing the needs of victims and their families."
Peel police partner with an organization called Multilingual Community Interpreter Services to help with domestic violence investigations.
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