Ontario’s Victim Support Grant provides $100,000 to Belleville Police Service
Provincial funding aids survivors of intimate partner violence and domestic violence, human trafficking, and child exploitation
BELLEVILLE — Through the Victim Support Grant program, the Ontario government is investing more than $4 million this year to support survivors of intimate partner violence and domestic violence, human trafficking, and child exploitation. That includes $100,000 for the Belleville Police Service (BPS).
The Belleville Police Service will use the funding to support a full-time victim services worker and create stronger partnerships with community agencies. BPS 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 by these crimes.
“These criminal behaviours leave lasting impacts on the people they victimize. With this funding, our government is helping the Belleville Police Service better connect survivors with the supports they need to recover,” said Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte.
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 (VSG) 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 Combating Human Trafficking Act, 2021.
Belleville Chief of Police Mike Callaghan welcomed the funding.
“The Victim Support Grant will afford the Belleville Police Service to provide support to victims in our community that often require immediate involvement. We are very appreciative of the funding from the Provincial Government to make this a reality once again this year,” said Callaghan.
QUICK FACTS
- All municipal and First Nation police services as well as the Ontario Provincial Police are eligible to apply for funding through the VSG program.
- The VSG can be used for a variety of projects and initiatives, including specialized training for law enforcement, culturally responsive education, and awareness campaigns, and purchasing technology and equipment to enhance police investigations and provide survivors with the option to complete interviews remotely.
- Of the 45 projects being funded across the province, 19 will focus on intimate partner violence and domestic violence, five on human trafficking, three on child exploitation, and 18 that will focus on all three areas.
- The Ontario government is investing over $2 million in the Partner Assault Response (PAR) program to help break the cycle of intimate partner violence and keep communities safe. The PAR program provides specialized group education and counselling for people charged with intimate partner violence offences and offers support to current partners of those in the program. This two-year investment is in addition to the more than $2 million given to PAR providers in 2022.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES