‘19 calls, 5 to 6 arrests per day’: Police chief reveals London’s intimate partner violence statistics

New statistics from London's police chief reveal how widespread the epidemic of intimate partner violence is across the city. CTV's Brent Lale reports.

In a report to London’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee (SPPC), Police Chief Thai Truong revealed just how prevalent intimate partner violence (IPV) is in the Forest City.

“On average, we receive 19 calls per day with respect to intimate partner violence,” said Truong. “Within those 19 calls, every day, roughly on average, you’re averaging between five and six arrests. I’m doing my math correctly, it’s around 7,000 calls with respect to intimate partner violence or domestic violence.”

Those numbers may seem shocking to some, but not to Megan Walker.

“It’s really indicative of just how widespread this problem is,” said Walker, a nationally recognized women’s advocate. “I’m not surprised by it, although I’m really happy to see that women are reaching out because that’s huge. I think Chief Truong has made that measure accessible for women and girls so that they do feel they can reach out to police. A lot of police services across this country don’t have that. So, it’s amazing to me that this is happening, that he’s talking about it.”

Truong said that due to a variety of reasons they only make arrests on 20 per cent of the calls to which his officers respond. That means in 80 per cent of cases there is no police follow up, and they walk away offering support to various local organizations.

“One of the initiatives that we’re looking at is how do we better serve those individuals and families that would otherwise have no contact with us unless the second or third or sixth or seventh time results in victimization,” said Truong.

“We have put together some proposals to the provincial government looking for looking to support some, real different initiatives for us. We have a plan to integrate many great organizations out there that are in community doing this type of work so that when we respond and there’s no arrest made or no police intervention, that we’re not just turning our backs and letting those families in, those victims, potential victims, strive or thrive on their own,” he added.

Walker, who worked alongside Truong on the London Police Services Board, says it’s very difficult to get a women’s permission to reach out, particularly if they are still living in their home with an abuser.

“It’s a fragile issue and it’s a complex issue but I am very happy to see the initiative by Chief Truong,” said Walker.

She added, “He is a very, compassionate individual who really wants to do what’s best for his community. In doing so, he has taken a strong position in favour of helping abused and trafficked women and all of these women that go through a terrible situation every single day. The nice thing about it is he’s got the power to actually change things and that’s very positive. He’s definitely committed and I think we are going to see some results in the not-too-distant future.”

Truong says prior to this multi-year budget, the London Police Service (LPS) did not have a dedicated 24-hour response to gender-based violence or domestic violence. They have a domestic violence unit and going forward they will be staffing that unit around the clock.

He spoke to the SPPC the same day the Government of Canada announced one of the most consequential updates to Canada’s Criminal Code in generations.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Sean Fraser announced the Protecting Victims Act.

It is intended to protect victims and survivors of sexual violence, gender-based violence, and intimate partner violence, and to keep children safe from predators.

This legislation also responds to long-standing concerns about court delays under the Jordan framework, which limits how long cases can take before they risk being dismissed, sometimes leaving victims without a resolution.

“That is exactly what we have all been advocating for years and years and years,” said Walker.

“As far as I can remember back, we’ve been advocating that femicide be in the Criminal Code of Canada and named appropriately, so that women and girls know that someone is recognizing what is happening to their family members or others,” she added. “This legislation is passed, femicide will be considered a first-degree murder offence in those situations where it would qualify and that is unheard of, so this is big news.”

Statistics Canada cited one in six homicide victims were killed by a spouse or intimate partner and there was a sharp increase in homicide of a woman by a current or former intimate-partner “from 53 in 2023 to 81 in 2024.”

There have been several femicide cases in the London, Ont. region in the past two years. Those include Breanna Broadfoot, Cheryl Sheldon, Tiffany Gates, Caitlin Jennings, Carolyn Carter, Tanya Wiebe, and Victoria Dill.

Walker feels if passed, this bill will come with significant consequences for those that harm and kill women.

“I’m very inspired by Minister Fraser,” said Walker. “I think what he’s proposed is more than I expected and certainly is needed and I really want to have a society where women and girls are free and that doesn’t exist right now. Anyone who’s got a child, a girl, or a woman in their family, they need to pay attention to this because the courts are continuing to minimize the impact of male violence against women and on families and on society.”