Prevention of Violence against Women Week

Burnaby

2022-04-12 12:28 PDT

The Burnaby RCMP is recognizing Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, while acknowledging the additional stressors the COVID-19 pandemic continues to add to home life. 

Gender-based violence can affect anyone; however, women have a 20 per cent higher risk of being victimized than men, and Indigenous women reportedly experience intimate partner violence at a rate that is three times higher than non-Indigenous women.

Throughout the pandemic, there has been an increase in violence against women, and especially intimate partner violence. In 2019, Burnaby RCMP responded to 891 intimate partner violence reports; however, during the pandemic this increased to 1,576 files in 2020 and 1,469 files in 2021.

In 2021, Domestic in Progress reports accounted for 5.4 per cent of the overall 45,557 calls for service within the Burnaby RCMP. 

During the pandemic we heard from victims that violence that happened in the home was even more difficult because of COVID-19 restrictions. In many cases we have seen how the pandemic has created even more isolation and barriers for victims, including women and children, said Media Relations Officer Cpl. Alexa Hodgins, who previously worked in Burnaby RCMP’s Domestic Violence Unit. 

Our message this week to anyone who may be continuing to struggle is that help and services exist and there are resources in the community to support you, Hodgins added. 

The RCMP recognizes the importance of trauma-informed practices and interventions. All RCMP employees undergo training on cultural awareness, humility and trauma-informed practices. 

Burnaby RCMP’s Victim Services unit provides emotional support, practical help, safety planning, court support and referrals to other agencies. 

Burnaby Victim Services supports gender-based violence victims regularly. In 2020, they responded to 842 intimate partner violence police reports. To contact our Victim Services Unit, call 604-646-9700 or email Burnaby_Victim_Services@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Staff with the unit are available Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. If you have concerns for your own safety or the safety of a loved one, we ask that you contact 9-1-1. 

Burnaby RCMP’s frontline officers will respond around the clock to these calls and often work hand-in-hand with our Victim Services Unit, ensuring that victims have all the supports they or their loved ones may need. 

In Burnaby, there are also a number of other agencies available to help victims and their families. Burnaby RCMP Victim Services staff work alongside a number of partners including those listed below.

 

Female RCMP officer standing beside the words "Stop Violence against women"

The following agencies provide services:

Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society (VLMFSS)

VLMFSS offers free and confidential culturally- responsive services with immigrant, refugee, visible minorities, without immigration status women and their families who are victims / survivors of Intimate Partner/Familial Violence, child abuse and sexual violence. We provide emotional supportive services in over 20 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Cantonese, Dari, English, Farsi, Fijian, Hindi, Ilokano, Korean, Mandarin, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Telugu and more. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are committed to continuing to provide critical services via phone, email, text, skype, messenger, tele-conference, face time, and zoom. 

Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Contact: Local (604) 436-1025 / 1.888.436.1025
Email: againstviolence@vlmfss.ca
Website: www.vlmfss.ca

Cameray Child and Family Service’s Victim Support Program

Cameray work with persons under the age of 19 years old, who are victims or witnesses to crime along with their non-offending family members. Follow up support is available to children and youth who have been victims or witnesses of domestic violence when a report has been made to police. This includes but is not limited to safety planning and counselling referrals., or by emailing.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Friday 9 a.m.– 5 p.m.
Contact: 604-436-9449 ext 237
Email: cvss@cameray.ca
Website: www.cameray.ca

Family Services of Greater Vancouver

Our team of community-based Victim Support Workers are here to help you over the phone or online. You do not have to have filed a police report to access our services. We can help you make a safety plan, get one-on-one support, connect you to other supports and financial assistance, and interact with the criminal justice and legal system if you need it, and more.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Contact: 604 360 3235
Email: bbynw@fsgv.ca
Website: www.fsgv.ca

Additional Resources:

Court Services Online (CSO)

Court Services Online (CSO) is an electronic service to provide access to government information. Through CSO, the public can search Provincial and Supreme Civil Files, Court of Appeal Files, Provincial Traffic and Criminal Court Files with the capacity from electronic document viewing and printing. Documents can be viewed free of charge or with a $6-$10 service fee.

In 2021, Clare’s Law legislation was implemented in Saskatchewan and Alberta. This legislation allows Police to disclose a person’s prior intimate partner violence information to their current or former partner – or a third party such as a parent. This provincially established process allows Canadians to make informed decisions about their safety, especially around intimate partner relationships. While British Columbia has not enacted Clare’s Law, CSO provides some of this information that can empower victims of gender-based violence. 

Hours: 24 hours / 7 days a week
Website: CSO - (gov.bc.ca)

VictimLinkBC 

VictimLink BC is a toll-free, confidential and multilingual services available across B.C. and the Yukon. VictimLinkBC provides information and referral services to call victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, victims of human trafficking and sexual services. 

Hours: 24 hours / 7 days a week
Contact: 1-800-563-0808
E-mail: VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca
Website: VictimLinkBC - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

Released by

Cpl. Michael Kalanj

Media Relations Officer
Burnaby RCMP
6355 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC, V5G 2J2
Office: 604-646-9566
Fax: 604-646-9704

Email: burnaby_rcmp_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: burnaby.rcmp-grc.gc.ca (English only)

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