More than one in five individuals arrested for intimate partner violence in Halton in 2024 were repeat offenders already out on bail, according to a report presented by Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner.

Of the 739 arrests made for intimate partner violence in 2024, 159 involved individuals who were already on bail—representing 21.5% of total arrests. Chief Tanner shared these findings during a review of regional crime statistics with the Halton Police Board, noting that the true number could be even higher.

Police board member Lisa Kearns called the figure “very alarming,” highlighting the difficulty of securing arrests in these cases, only to see a significant portion involve repeat offenders.

Silvia Samsa, Executive Director of the Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services (SAVIS) of Halton, expressed concern that courts often treat those charged with intimate partner violence as if it were their first offense—even when that’s not the case.

“Many so-called first-time offenders aren’t actually offending for the first time,” Samsa explained. She added that without a prior criminal record, those charged are often released with a simple promise to stay away from the victim and appear in court—conditions that are frequently ignored.

This pattern sends the wrong message, Samsa warned: “A lot of offenders believe they’ve gotten away with it, and that encourages reoffending. The courts need to make it clear that this isn’t a family matter—it’s a criminal act.”

While she acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the strain on the justice system—including Maplehurst jail operating at 140% capacity—Samsa stressed the need for both prevention and rehabilitation. SAVIS partners with local school boards to educate students about healthy relationships and advocates for counseling not only for victims but for offenders, to teach non-violent conflict resolution.

Deputy Chief Jeff Hill also announced that Halton Police will soon launch a specialized offender management team focused on intimate partner violence—making it the first of its kind in Ontario. “The data makes it clear how urgently this is needed,” he said.

Samsa concluded with a message to anyone experiencing abuse: “Please don’t be afraid to reach out. Know your rights and seek support.”