Hamilton police delay new intimate partner violence unit to save $3.6M despite epidemic: chief

To cut costs this year, Hamilton police say they will not be launching a new intimate partner violence unit as planned. 

The proposed unit, comprised of 17 members including two detectives, would've cost $3.6 million in 2025, and be focused on domestic violence investigations, supporting survivors and "managing" offenders, said Duncan Robertson, Hamilton police's acting director of finance, at a general issues committee meeting Tuesday. 

But as the police service looked for "efficiencies," they decided to push creating the unit to 2026 instead, he said. 

At the meeting, Robertson and Chief Frank Bergen answered councillors' questions about the proposed police budget and increase of 5.7 per cent, or $12.25 million, for 2025. The total net police budget — to be funded by taxpayers — will be $227 million if passed by council later this winter.

Bergen said police determined the need for the intimate partner violence unit in 2024, recognizing it is an "epidemic" in the city.

Hamilton formally declared the epidemic in 2023, joining dozens of municipalities across Ontario. 

Every year, police receive about 12,000 calls for service related to intimate partner and family violence, said Robertson. 

In the early 2000s, a similar unit was piloted in Central Hamilton, and police at the time reported "great benefits" to the quality of investigations and support survivors received, he noted. 

But the plan for the unit to begin this year didn't "survive" internal budget deliberations, said Bergen. 

Coun. Mike Spadafora (Ward 14) said the community needs this unit and it should be funded for 2025 even if it means finding the money in the city's overall budget. 

"I give you my word, chief, in the next month will try to my absolute hardest to ensure this need gets put back in the budget," he said. 

Current domestic violence unit has 2 officers

Police currently have a domestic violence unit consisting of two officers and is focused on "quality control" on investigations done by the patrol unit and criminal investigations division, said spokesperson Jackie Penman. 

The intimate partner violence unit would be new, she said. 

YWCA Hamilton CEO Medora Uppal told CBC Hamilton the $3.6 million would be a significant and needed police investment, but understands budget deliberations can be "tough." 

The service provider supports survivors of intimate partner violence and is part of a women's advisory committee that works with police. 

Officers in the domestic violence unit currently have "massive caseloads" and a larger unit would be "very positive," Uppal said. 

"I think it would be an appropriate response to the epidemic and to see better outcomes, results and interventions," she said. 

But policing is only one part of the response, she said, and community organizations also need more funding as they're under pressure to meet an intense demand for services.  

Police budget includes $2M for body armour

According to a report, the police budget will see the creation of 40 new staff positions — 13 officers, 27 civilians — to keep up with population growth.

The largest expense is related to staffing including benefits and salaries set by collective agreements, said Bergen. 

Capital expenses include $2 million for body armour, $2.5 million to replace vehicles and $2.4 million for body-worn cameras. 

Over $16 million was pulled from reserves and found in "efficiencies," including not creating the intimate partner violence unit in 2025, the chief said.