Image: Mission RCMP / Purple lights out from of the Mission RCMP detachment on Oliver Street to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Canada.,

By Don Mitchell

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

RCMP responded to over 400 calls intimate partner violence last year in Mission

Oct 12, 2024 | 11:15 AM

MISSION – Amid a campaign to raise awareness of intimate partner violence, Mission RCMP revealed they received 418 calls related to domestic incidents last year.

A week after the launch of the 13th annual Purple Light Nights campaign recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the detachment said all of the calls involved someone who was hurt, felt unsafe, or needed help.

Not every call involved physical violence, according to Mission RCMP Victim Services.

Unit coordinator Stephanie Atzinger, who works closely with individuals facing domestic situations, advises that those experiencing partner violence should not wait to reach out to authorities, even if a partner apologizes for their behavior.

“I have worked with Victim Services for over five years, and intimate partner violence is an ongoing issue that so many people face in our communities,” Atzinger explained.

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“We work closely with people who are going through these situations, to support them, and to help them know that they are not alone.”

She adds that it is important for victims not to blame themselves and to watch for signs of controlling behavior, such as withholding finances or threatening to take custody of children.

Victim Services reports assisting 158 new clients in the first quarter of 2024 alone.

It also revealed that officers were being advised on handling 59 intimate partner investigations, and bi-monthly meetings were scheduled to discuss strategies for addressing ‘high-risk’ partner violence cases.

RCMP suggest reaching out even if not in immediate danger and at the very least learn about what options are available to avoid violence.

Mission RCMP’s Victim Services can be reached at 604-820-3504. Alternatively, victims can contact the non-emergency line at 604-826-7161.

The Purple Light Nights campaign continues at the Mission City Farmers Market at Centennial Park on October 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and concludes with a community walk on October 26 at the SARA for Women office on Fifth Avenue.