Latest news with #familyViolence
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Globe and Mail
CRTC delays to 911 system upgrades put victims of intimate partner violence at risk, advocates say
The two-year deadline extension for Canada's upgraded 911 emergency response system is sounding alarm bells among advocates who warn that it is increasing safety risks for individuals experiencing violence at home. They say the next generation of Canada's 911 system, known as NG9-1-1, which would allow users to text emergency services rather than call, would offer an additional layer of discretion they believe is crucial for those experiencing intimate partner violence. Police-reported data show that women are overrepresented among victims of this crime. Intimate partner violence is also known as spousal or domestic violence. In 2019, 80 per cent of people who had experienced intimate partner violence did not report it to the police, according to a 2019 statistical profile on family violence by the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, which is a division of Statistics Canada. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) had set the deadline for all service providers to implement the NG9-1-1 network for March of this year. But in February, the CRTC announced it would extend the deadline by two years - until March 31, 2027. Once the new network is implemented, existing 911 systems will be disconnected. CRTC delays implementation of next-generation 911 service for two years But advocates say the extension is putting women who are subject to intimate partner violence at greater risk. They say it would be safer for individuals in precarious situations to reach out for emergency services via text than having to make a phone call. This is not the first time the CRTC has bumped the deadline. The regulator had already extended the implementation deadline from June 30, 2023 to March 4, 2025. But the origin of NG9-1-1 dates even further back to 2001 when the National Emergency Number Association first laid out its expectations for the new emergency telecommunication system. Mike Wood, a long-time advocate for the 911 reform, said texting 911 instead of calling the service would remove some of the barriers for those reaching out for help when experiencing intimate partner violence. 'If somebody is in a violent situation and they can't speak — like they're in the room with someone — the ability to text 911 could save their life,' Mr. Wood said. In his most recent effort to get the ball rolling on 911 reform, Mr. Wood is meeting with Ontario government officials on Thursday to discuss the implementation of Canada's new 911 system. In addition to reaching 911 services via text, the NG9-1-1 network would allow users to send videos of an accident or provide necessary medical information. According to the CRTC's website, the upgrade would create a faster, safer and more informed emergency response. When asked why the deadline was extended, CRTC spokesperson Megan MacLean explained that first responders and telecommunications providers across the country warned of potential 911 service interruptions because some jurisdictions could not transition in time between the two networks. Ms. MacLean said the regulator heard concerns from several stakeholders regarding the deadline, including the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada. 'These groups were concerned that Canadians in areas that have not transitioned to NG9-1-1 could lose access to 911 services,' Ms. MacLean said in a statement. 'Given that this would cause an unacceptable risk to public safety, the deadline for the transition to NG9-1-1 was extended to March 2027.' Despite the extension, some Ontario cities such as Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto are implementing the NG9-1-1 system ahead of the deadline. The Toronto Police Service (TPS) implemented the first phase of NG9-1-1 in July of last year to help assist dispatchers discern authentic 911 calls from misdials. The service is set to launch the second phase of NG9-1-1 this year. But there is no timeline for real-time texting and live emergency video call features to be added to the system, according to the TPS website. Ms. MacLean said 911 call centres and telecommunications services providers 'may transition to NG9-1-1 as soon as they are ready.' However, the lack of urgency has increased concerns among experts who argue the option to text is useful for those in precarious situations while reaching out for help. 'Texting would allow a person to be a lot more discreet,' said Suzy Dunn, professor in law and technology at Dalhousie's Schulich School of Law. 'When their partner knows that they've called the police or they're reaching out for help, sometimes that can escalate violence.' Ms. Dunn's research focuses on the way people communicate through technology when they're in situations like intimate partner violence. Despite the lack of research in effectiveness of being able to text 911, Ms. Dunn said just having the option to text would be beneficial to women. 'Someone could pop into the bathroom and make a 911 text. It's a lot more difficult to pop into the bathroom and make a 911 call when your partner could hear you talking on the phone,' Ms. Dunn said. The issue is even more acute in rural and remote communities where emergency services are scarce. Stephanie Melnyk, research and community outreach representative at Rise Women's Legal Centre, said its dangerous for women and gender-diverse people managing their safety 'on a moment-to-moment basis' to pick up the phone and call 911. Mr. Wood, the 911 reform advocate, says it all comes down to lived experiences. He says that's why the general population does not realize the delay is an issue for this group. 'Until they have that lived experience, a lot of people don't know that you just can't text 911.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
Former AFL and NRL player charged with attempted murder
A former AFL and NRL rookie, who then became a prominent local footy player in Melbourne, has been charged with attempted murder. The Herald Sun reports 29-year-old Shem Tatupu was charged relating to an alleged family violence matter. He will face Melbourne Magistrates' Court in August for a committal mention hearing, having been arrested and charged before fronting court last month. Separately he has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury and will face Moorabbin Magistrates' Court later in June. Tatupu, from New Zealand, was a category B rookie on Hawthorn's list for three seasons after being picked up in the 2013 draft. He did not play an AFL game instead featuring with the VFL's Box Hill Hawks, before quitting footy due to a lack of passion and defecting to rugby league. Tatupu signed with the Melbourne Storm in 2016 and later that year was hit by a car outside Storm HQ. He did not play an NRL game and returned to local-level Aussie rules.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Former AFL and NRL star Shem Tatupu 'is charged with attempted murder over alleged family violence offence'
Former Hawthorn and Melbourne Storm player Shem Tatupu has been charged with attempted murder after being arrested last month, it has been reported. The charge against the 29-year-old reportedly relates to an alleged family violence matter. Police have not revealed when or where the alleged offence occurred. Tatupu has already fronted court over the attempted murder charge, according to News Corp, and he is now due to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal hearing in August. He has also been hit with a separate charge of intentionally causing serious injury and will face Moorabbin Magistrates' Court over that matter later this month, the publication reported. Tatupu is the son of New Zealand Warriors foundation player Tony Tatupu. He played rugby league and union as a youngster before turning to Aussie Rules after participating in a junior AFL tournament in Auckland in 2009. Tatupu played 22 VFL games with Hawthorn after being signed as an international development player, but left the club in March 2016 to forge a career in the NRL. He was signed by the Storm later that month, with the move creating headlines due to the rarity of an NRL side trying to convert an Aussie Rules player to the code. 'We have seen vision of him playing top schoolboy rugby in New Zealand, but when making this decision, character, background and his attitude convinced us,' Storm football director Frank Ponissi said at the time. 'Craig [Bellamy, head coach] and I met him a couple of times, his attitude was right, his desire to come here was clear and he didn't need much convincing.' When Tatupu left the Hawks, then-football operations manager Chris Fagan revealed the player had stepped away when his desire to make it in the AFL waned. 'This has been a tough decision for Shem to make,' said Fagan, who now coaches the Brisbane Lions. 'We have been really impressed with the way in which he has applied himself over the past two years and he has made some positive progress. 'However, after much consultation with the club, Shem has decided that the passion for AFL football is no longer there.'
CBC
09-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
P.E.I. Family Violence Prevention Services has 2 new ways to offer psychological support
Social Sharing P.E.I. Family Violence Prevention Services has come up with ways to deliver more free psychological support to its clients, with the help of the University of Prince Edward Island and an innovative enterprise it calls The Nest. The organization traditionally focuses on things like education, support groups, emergency shelters and outreach services. But executive director Danya O'Malley said there was a gap when it came to offering clinical services. "There's a lot of reasons why support is exactly what people need. They need somebody to walk alongside them on the path that they're on, somebody to help them navigate services," O'Malley said. "We do see people who are in some very fragile conditions, psychologically, and it is sometimes challenging to receive services in a timely way." That's why last year, they began working with UPEI Doctor of Psychology practicum students to offer free services to clients, with oversight from the university, O'Malley said. "It was a wonderful experience," she said. "The students have been amazing." Two new practicum students started in May and will be spending two days a week with Family Violence Prevention Services until mid-December. UPEI psychology professor Philip Smith said a supervising psychologist will ensure any client is a good fit for the student. Then they work on a plan of how to proceed and keep a close eye on how the process is going. "The clients can be assured that the students in a practicum setting are being supervised, so that the level, the quality of service that the clients are receiving would be parallel to the quality of services that they would receive from a registered psychologist." This is an opportunity for them to work with ... folks who have had experiences around family violence, domestic abuse. — UPEI professor Philip Smith It's also a chance for the students to learn directly in the community. "This is an opportunity for them to work with... folks who have had experiences around family violence, domestic abuse," said Smith. "That's an important kind of learning opportunity for the students." Clinical services for public Family Violence Prevention Services is continuing to build on work like this. O'Malley said the organization is now offering some clinical services to the general public — including therapy, assessments and consultations. It's called The Nest. "We have started essentially the same thing as a private counselling firm, but it is run by us and funding us," she said. "So a clinician would be an employee of ours, and then we receive their billable hours, and they are paid a portion and a portion goes back to the organization." She said it's run as a social enterprise — the goal is to eventually generate enough revenue from paying customers so that money will be available to offer clinical support to some clients for free. "It is a gap, definitely, for our clients, for everyone. People can wait a long time ... [services] can be very expensive," said O'Malley. "We have many children on our caseload whose parents would love to get a child assessment — a psycho-educational assessment perhaps, or maybe an autism assessment. And access to those things can be incredibly difficult." It all depends on the uptake, but O'Malley is hoping such assessments will be available free for some clients this year.
