Intimate Partner and Other Violence

The victim will be referred to the Halton Regional Police Service Victim Services Unit. Our staff will work with you to establish a safety plan.

They will also:

• connect you to appropriate support services in the community
• assist with victim care
• work with the Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP+) to provide immediate short-term financial support, and

• when necessary, enroll the victim in the Mobile Tracking System, a short-term program where a GPS tracking device acts as a personal alarm

Following an arrest, the accused may face a number of different outcomes:

• They may be released on a form called an Undertaking or Recognizance (the victim will be notified)
• They may be held by the police for bail
• The court may decide to hold the accused in custody until the trial

When a charge has been laid, the case will be prosecuted by a lawyer from the Crown Attorney's office at no cost to the victim. Once a charge has been laid, neither the police nor the victim can withdraw the charge.

If an accused is released on an undertaking, they must obey any conditions imposed upon them while awaiting trial, including:

• no contact with the victim
• not to attend the residence of the victim even if the residence is the matrimonial home or shared residence

• If possible, leave the home or call police before the violence starts
• If possible, keep a charged cell phone with you at all times. Be aware that even if you have no minutes on a minute plan, your cell phone will work to call 9-1-1.
• If you need to leave your home or workplace, know the best escape routes and practice your emergency exit plans. Teach any children the escape route as well.
• Plan where you can go if you need to leave. These places should be safe locations.
• If possible, make a safe area in your home that you and children can go to when you feel threatened and cannot leave. Avoid kitchens, bathrooms, the garage, and other rooms that contain anything that can be used as a weapon. Do not use a room without outside access.
• If possible, change all the locks on the home. Install an alarm system and good lighting such as motion detectors.
• Keep your purse and wallet nearby if you need to leave
• Keep spare keys to your car and home with you or in a safe place
• Keep a small bag of clothes packed and hidden

You can also keep copies of important documents in a safe place, preferably with a friend or family member outside of your home. These documents include:

• birth certificates
• passports
• driver's licence(s)
• insurance information
• bank information
• mortgage or lease papers
• immigration documents
• health records
• school records
• other court documents

• Make your employer and co-workers aware of your situation and ask them to call police if they see your partner around your workplace. Give them a photo of your partner if you have one.
• Direct your employer and co-workers not to give out your contact information to anyone and not to give out your work schedule.
• Arrange for someone at work to walk with you to your car or walk with you from the building when leaving work.

If a problem arises while you are driving, you can:

• use your cell phone to call police
• honk your horn or flash your lights
• drive to a police station that you know is open or to a heavily-populated public place such as a well-lit coffee shop

If you use public transportation, you can:

• sit close to the driver
• have a friend walk you home or meet you and walk you home together

Always let friends and relatives know where you are at all times. Also let them know the times you are expected home (and be home at those times) so they can contact the police in the event you are missing. Tell friends, neighbours, and family about the intimate partner violence and create a code word or signal with them to let them know that you need help so that they can call the police for you.

If your experience intimate partner violence and you have children, you can:

• ensure that your children's schools or daycare provider has a copy of all orders, including all restraining orders, custody, and access orders as well as a photo of the accused party
• decide on a code word for your children to let them know to go and get help. Let them know where to go and how to use the phone to place a 9-1-1 call to police. Rehearse with them what to do and say.