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The Epidemic of
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Staff Sergeant Amy Hachborn has been a police officer with the Waterloo Regional Police Service for the past 20 years. She has worked patrol in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge and as a detective in the Intimate Partner Violence Unit and the Special Victims Unit. She has also worked as a School Resource Officer, in the Training Branch and at Court Services.
Currently she is the Staff Sergeant of the Intimate Partner Violence Unit which is comprised of 20 investigators, two sergeants and detectives assigned to focus on early intervention and high risk offenders.
Currently she is the Staff Sergeant of the Intimate Partner Violence Unit which is comprised of 20 investigators, two sergeants and detectives assigned to focus on early intervention and high risk offenders.
Presentation Footage
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Intimate Partner Violence Unit - Waterloo Region Police Services
(Below quoted information sourced from the "Our Response to Intimate Partner Violence" section, on the Intimate Partner Violence Unit description as found HERE)
"The Intimate Partner Violence Unit of the Waterloo Regional Police Service was the first unit solely dedicated to the investigation of intimate partner violence in Canada and was launched in March 2006. The team specializes in preventing, responding to and investigating incidents of intimate partner violence. The unit also connects victims to important community supports as a partner in the Family Violence Project of Waterloo Region.
The unit continues to be a hallmark of intimate partner violence investigations providing a wrap-around, victim-centric approach focused on support, safety planning, breaking the cycle and early intervention." |
Proactive Policing in IPV: Amy Hachborn
Staff Sergeant Amy Hachborn from the Waterloo Regional Police Services provides an insightful overview of the department's innovative approaches to addressing intimate partner violence (IPV). Located in the Camino Health and Well-Being building, the IPV branch operates in a non-traditional police setting, which Hachborn believes is essential for making victims feel comfortable and safe.
Hachborn highlights the branch's significant workload, noting that it handles a quarter of the total charges of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. This high volume underscores the pervasive issue of IPV in the region. To manage this, the branch is expanding, adding new investigators in 2024 to better support victims and manage cases.
A key focus of Hachborn's discussion is the branch's preventative approach to IPV. In collaboration with Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, they initiated a pilot project aimed at early intervention in non-criminal IPV incidents. By identifying couples with multiple IPV calls within a specific period, the program seeks to intervene before situations escalate to criminal offences. This approach involves a detective and an outreach worker collaborating to provide education and support to the involved parties. The positive feedback and reduction in subsequent calls and charges among participating couples demonstrate the success of this strategy.
Hachborn also emphasizes the importance of education in their approach to IPV. By informing the community about the signs of IPV and the potential legal consequences of criminal charges, the branch aims to foster a more proactive and supportive environment. This educational component is crucial for young people, who may not fully grasp the implications of IPV-related criminal charges.
In response to a question about femicide, Hachborn assures that if the offender is alive following such an incident, they are charged with homicide. This response highlights the seriousness with which the police service treats IPV cases, especially those with the most tragic outcomes.
Overall, Hachborn's presentation sheds light on the proactive and collaborative efforts of the Waterloo Regional Police Services in addressing IPV. Their focus on early intervention, victim comfort, and community education represents a comprehensive approach to tackling this complex social issue.
- Strategic Location for Victim Comfort: Staff Sergeant Amy Hachborn emphasizes the importance of the Waterloo Regional Police Services' Intimate Partner Violence branch being located in a non-police building to provide a neutral, comfortable environment for victims.
- High Volume of IPV Cases and Charges: The branch is one of the busiest in the region, dealing with a significant portion of the police service's total charges, highlighting the prevalence of intimate partner violence.
- Focus on Early Intervention and Prevention: A pilot project with Women's Crisis Services exemplifies a preventative approach, aiming to intervene in non-criminal intimate partner violence cases before they escalate. The initiative led to a reduction in calls for service and charges, with participants expressing overall satisfaction, demonstrating the effectiveness of early intervention.
- Education as a Key Component: The branch prioritizes community education on intimate partner violence, helping people understand the potential consequences of criminal charges and providing information on available support services.
Staff Sergeant Amy Hachborn from the Waterloo Regional Police Services provides an insightful overview of the department's innovative approaches to addressing intimate partner violence (IPV). Located in the Camino Health and Well-Being building, the IPV branch operates in a non-traditional police setting, which Hachborn believes is essential for making victims feel comfortable and safe.
Hachborn highlights the branch's significant workload, noting that it handles a quarter of the total charges of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. This high volume underscores the pervasive issue of IPV in the region. To manage this, the branch is expanding, adding new investigators in 2024 to better support victims and manage cases.
A key focus of Hachborn's discussion is the branch's preventative approach to IPV. In collaboration with Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, they initiated a pilot project aimed at early intervention in non-criminal IPV incidents. By identifying couples with multiple IPV calls within a specific period, the program seeks to intervene before situations escalate to criminal offences. This approach involves a detective and an outreach worker collaborating to provide education and support to the involved parties. The positive feedback and reduction in subsequent calls and charges among participating couples demonstrate the success of this strategy.
Hachborn also emphasizes the importance of education in their approach to IPV. By informing the community about the signs of IPV and the potential legal consequences of criminal charges, the branch aims to foster a more proactive and supportive environment. This educational component is crucial for young people, who may not fully grasp the implications of IPV-related criminal charges.
In response to a question about femicide, Hachborn assures that if the offender is alive following such an incident, they are charged with homicide. This response highlights the seriousness with which the police service treats IPV cases, especially those with the most tragic outcomes.
Overall, Hachborn's presentation sheds light on the proactive and collaborative efforts of the Waterloo Regional Police Services in addressing IPV. Their focus on early intervention, victim comfort, and community education represents a comprehensive approach to tackling this complex social issue.