Belleville’s police chief has welcomed new funding, just announced by the province, to help survivors of intimate partner violence.
The provincial announcement means Belleville Police Service will receive $100,000 to support a full-time victim services worker and create stronger partnerships with community agencies.
Belleville Police Chief Mike Callaghan tells Quinte News the local police service will expand its current referral system to better support survivors and will increase education and awareness in the police service, to help ensure frontline officers are aware of all available resources to help those victimized.
“When we look at being victim-centred and making sure that the victim is our main focus when we’re dealing with a criminal event and/or criminal prosecution, it’s so important to have this funding to ensure that we have a victims’ assistance liaison available immediately to support victims of crime.”
Callaghan explained, “So at the end of the day this is going to continue with a program that was started last year and we are very, very thankful to the provincial government.”
“We have access to a trained member who is specifically trained in dealing with victims of crime. So the specific training is to be able to, not only support the member immediately, but also support them when it’s time to go to trial.”
Callahan added that the local police service is “very appreciative of the funding from the Provincial Government to make this a reality once again this year.”
Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith says, “With this funding, the government is helping the Belleville Police Service better connect survivors with the supports they need to recover.”
Ontario’s Solicitor General Michael Kerzner added, “Support for victims and survivors is a crucial first step to recovery. This important grant is part of our government’s plan to combat violence on our streets and ensure that victims are not left behind.”
The Victim Support Grant is part of Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy and it complements the province’s $307 million Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, 2020-2025 and Combatting Human Trafficking Act, 2021.
The Victim Support Grant is part of Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy and it complements the province’s $307 million Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, 2020-2025 and Combatting Human Trafficking Act, 2021.
