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The Role of Law Enforcement in the Implementation of Legislations Related to Intimate
Partner Violence in Canada
Cheenu Sharma (j0478510)

Introduction

Discussion

Intimate partner violence (IPV), also referred to as domestic violence,
encompasses actions by a current or former intimate partner that
may cause or result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm (Stewart
et al., 2020). Additionally, some authorities now recognize stalking
and financial abuse as forms of IPV (Stewart et al., 2020). This
research paper investigates the role of law enforcement in the
implementation of existing IPV-related legislation in Canada, critically
analysing both its strengths and limitations.

One of the most pressing insights is that while law enforcement
agencies play a central role in the immediate response to IPV, the
effectiveness of their intervention is highly constrained by systemic
and organizational barriers. The findings from Saxton et al. (2021;
2022) emphasize the emotional toll on officers dealing with IPV, which
points to an overlooked aspect: the psychological support for law
enforcement. A prominent new insight is the necessity of moving
beyond the traditional gendered approach to IPV, where male
perpetrators and female victims are presumed to be the norm. Dutton
(2010) and Winterdyk et al. (2017) highlight the limitations of this
paradigm, as it fails to consider male victims, LGBTQ+ relationships,
and cases where violence may be bilateral. Embracing a more
inclusive approach acknowledges that IPV is not confined to a single
narrative but rather exists in diverse and complex forms.

Background
In 2019, statistics revealed that over 100,000 Canadians aged 15 to 89
experienced IPV, accounting for nearly 30% of all violent crimes
reported to the police, a 6% rise from 2018 (Burczycka, 2019). Despite
legislative advancements and increased societal awareness, IPV cases
continue to be largely underreported, with victims facing numerous
barriers to disclosing their experiences (Heron & Eisma, 2021).
Qualitative analyses revealed that police officers encounter various
challenges when responding to IPV, which include obstacles at
systemic, organizational, and individual levels (Saxton et al., 2022).
Therefore, the research aims to answer a quintessential question as
how effectively law enforcement is playing role in implementing and
enforcing current IPV-related legislations in Canada?

Methods
This study will employ a secondary method approach which will
involve qualitative content analysis of existing literature. This
approach will provide a comprehensive overview of current trends,
legislative gaps, and survivor experiences. As the study involves
secondary sources only, direct ethical concerns related to
confidentiality are minimal. However, care will be taken to ensure that
any representation of survivor’s experiences is respectful and avoids
further stigmatization or sensationalism.

Results/Findings
The research highlights notable strengths as well as weaknesses as
shown in Figure 1. Data from sources such as the Canadian Homicide
Survey and the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCRS) underscore a
substantial discrepancy between police-reported and self-reported
IPV incidents, with significantly lower police-reported cases (Stewart
et al., 2020). In 2016, 79% of police-reported IPV cases involved
female victims, with males making up 80% of those charged. While
heterosexual relationships make up 82% of reported IPV cases, male
same-sex IPV is also significant, comprising about 55% of incidents
(Stewart et al., 2020). This finding points to the limited scope in police
recognition and reporting, which may hinder effective intervention as
shown in Figure 2. Police data also show that IPV extends beyond
physical violence to include psychological abuse and control tactics,
with 8% of women and 6% of men reporting such behaviors. Despite
this, many IPV cases go unreported due to fears of retaliation, shame,
or a lack of trust in police responses (Stewart et al., 2020; Saxton et
al., 2022).

Conclusions or Recommendations
In conclusion, this research paper explores the multifaceted nature of
intimate partner violence (IPV) in Canada, examining the effectiveness
of existing legislation and its interaction with law enforcement
practices. The findings underscore an urgent need for comprehensive
legislative reforms, revealing that current laws and policing strategies
often fall short in addressing the complexities of IPV. Future research
should prioritize long-term, in-depth studies to assess the lasting
effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on survivors and the
sustainability of current interventions. Understanding how individual’s
experiences evolve over time and evaluating the effectiveness of
various support systems will offer insights crucial for shaping policies
and practical approaches.

References
Burczycka, M., Section 2: Police-reported intimate partner violence in
Canada, 2018, in Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile,
2018. 2019, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Statistics
Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002x/2019001/article/00018/02-eng.htm
Dutton, D. G. (2010). The gender paradigm and the architecture of
anti-science. Partner Abuse, 1(1), 5–25.
https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.1.1.5
Heron, R. L., & Eisma, M. C. (2021). Barriers and facilitators of
disclosing domestic violence to the healthcare service: a
systematic review of qualitative research. Health & Social Care in
the Community, 29(3), 612-630.
Saxton, M. D., Jaffe, P. G., Dawson, M., Straatman, A. L., & Olszowy, L.
(2022). Complexities of the police response to intimate partner
violence: Police officers’ perspectives on the challenges of keeping
families safe. Journal of interpersonal Violence, 37(5-6), 25572580.
Stewart, D. E., MacMillan, H., & Kimber, M. (2020). Recognizing and
responding to intimate partner violence: An update. Canadian
Psychiatric Association. https://www.cpa-apc.org/wpcontent/uploads/IPV-EN-2.pdf
Winterdyk, J. (Ed.). (2017). Crime prevention: international
perspectives, issues, and trends. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis
Group.

Figure 1
Title: Strengths and Weaknesses of Research on IPV

Figure 2
Title: Scope of Police Recognition and Reporting in IPV Cases
(2016)

Note: The chart highlights four key aspects:
Diverse Perspectives, Empirical Evidence, Underreporting
Issues and Limited Scope.

Source: Stewart et al., 2020

LAWS 4003: PBDLES

Justice Institute of British Columbia

November 2024