Notification
to Victim of Domestic Abuse
The Halton Regional Police have
become involved with you likely because of an assault or
act of abuse against you.
You may feel confused, worried
or afraid. SUPPORT
IS AVAILABLE TO YOU!
The Halton Regional Police Service
acknowledges that men, women, children and same sex partners
can all be victims of domestic violence.
The Facts
-
Violence against women has
reached epidemic proportions in Canada. At least three
in ten women are physically abused by her boyfriend,
partner, husband or child/children.
-
Violence in relationships
can lead to serious injury, suicide and murder, and is
always emotionally destructive to men, women and children.
-
Physical violence, threats
of violence and crimes. It is against the law to assault
your partner, just as it is a crime to assault a stranger.
-
The police are required to
lay charges when there are reasonable grounds to believe
an assault has occurred.
-
Children who witness violence
in the family experience the same problems as children
who are themselves abused. In addition, violence is learned,
and many perpetuate a cycle of violence for future generations.
Cycle of Violence
Abusive Event
(Physical/Sexual/Emotional/Psychological)
Reconciliation
- Abuser
apologizes
- Promises
it will never happen again
- Denies
abuse took place or that it wasn’t that bad
- Gift
giving by abuser
Peace
- Incident
is not the primary focus
- Less
obvious forms of abuse
- Some
promises made during re reconciliation are being met
- The
interval of peace becomes shorter with each abusive incident
Tension builder
- Tension
rebuilds
- Minor
incidents more noticeable
- Communication
weakens
- Victim
feels the need to placate the abuser
- Tension
becomes unbearable
Some examples of abuse
Physical Abuse- Pushing,
slapping, spitting, biting, choking, kicking, confinement,
throwing things, use of weapons and objects for assault.
Emotional Abuse- Threatening partner,
self and other, terrorizing, destroying property, humiliation
and degrading behavior, insults and attacks on personality,
controlling movements and contacts of partner, extreme jealousy,
isolation of partner from friends and family, yelling and
screaming to induce fear, neglect, and financial control.
Sexual Abuse- Degrading and humiliating
comments about the partner, sexual assault with objects,
accusation of cheating, forced sexual activity with others,
rape, physical violence linked to sexual activity, withholding
affection as punishment.
If you are abused, you are not
alone and you are not to blame. You cannot control your partner’s
violence, but there are ways you can make yourself safer.
Take action
- If
you are in danger call 911
- Tell
supportive friends and family
- Develop
a safety plan. Know all exits in your home you could use
in an emergency
- Memorize
emergency numbers
- Keep
spare house and car keys
- Keep
health card, bank cards, legal papers and ID for you and
your children
- Call
a shelter for abused women. Shelters can provide a safe
place to stay in a crisis as well as information and counseling
24 hours a day, seven days a week, in person or by phone
- Without
intervention violence will increase in frequency and severity
as time passes. Consider leaving the relationship ASAP
- Recognize
that no one has the right to control you and that it is
everyone’s human right to live without fear.
If the police have charged your
partner, some form of court involvement will likely be required.
The victim/Witness Assistance Program is available to you
to provide information and support.
Please call them
at: (905) 878-6292, 491 Steeles Ave. E., Milton, Ont.
Further
Assistance and Support – Call
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Emergence - Police – Fire – Ambulance 911
Halton Regional Police (non-Emergency)
(905) 878-5511 or (905) 634-1831
Halton Regional Police Victim
Service Unit
(905) 878-5511 or (905) 634-1831
Halton Women’s Place Crisis
Line
(905) 878-8555 or (905) 332-7892
Halton Family Service (905)
845-3811
Halton Rape Crisis Center Crisis
Line
(905) 875-1555
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Burlington Counseling And Family
Services
(905) 637-5256
Children’s Aid Society of Halton (905)
333-4441
Kids Helpline 1-800-668-6868
Native Women’s Center Hamilton (905)
522-1501
Victim/Witness Assistance Program
(905) 878-6292
Wife Assault Helpline Hamilton (905)
387-8881
Women’s
Information & Support Centre of Halton (905) 847-5520
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