North Bay and Nipissing District are not immune from the epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
That from the North Bay Police Services Board, which declared IPV an epidemic at their Oct. 17 meeting.
“The impact of intimate partner violence is profound and far-reaching,” says Police Chief Scott Tod. “The North Bay Police Service will always stand up for victims and survivors and do everything in our power to ensure that perpetrators face justice and victims receive the supports they so desperately need.”
Tod says organizations like Victims Services of North Bay and Amelia Rising do a tremendous job supporting victims of IPV, but they require support.
“I hope this declaration will spur action here in North Bay, across Ontario and Canada,” he adds.
Police say along with Victim Services of Nipissing District reporting 475 calls for service in 2022, the Children’s Aid Society had 146 investigations open related to children’s exposure to IPV while 400 survivors and victims accessed support services offered by the Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing.
“Many in our community aren’t as aware of the prevalence and severity of violence occurring in our own community,” says Kathleen Jodouin, Executive Director of Victim Services of Nipissing District. “Declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic increases awareness and understanding and requires an urgent response from not only the criminal justice system but cross sectorial.”
The North Bay Police Service says it averages between 100-110 reports of IPV every month.
Officials say the ‘tragic truth is that these are not the complete numbers with most incidents going unreported.
