Intimate Partner Violence is on the rise across the province, or, at least the reporting of it is. Last year local OPP officers investigated 323 IPV cases — a jump of almost a third over 2024, which had 223 cases, according to Detective Constable Aaron Miller, Abuse Issues Investigator.

Likewise, reports of IPV were up by 18.1 percent in Ontario. There were 6,289 victims in 2024 compared to 5,326 in 2023. And that was 13.5 percent higher than in 2022. 

The OPP, specifically through the appointment of a Detachment Abuse Issues Investigator (DAII), continues to focus on IPV. DC Miller was appointed to the role in 2024. He’s one of 70 specialized Investigators in Ontario. DAIIs focus on intimate partner violence, elder abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.

He noted the local IPV statistics can be interpreted several ways. “We are happy when the stats go up and we are happy when they go down,” he said. “We hope the increase means more victims are comfortable reporting instances of IPV to authorities and that our vital community partnerships are serving their function. 

“We can’t police our way out of IPV.”

Complex Calls

Every IPV case is complex. In Markdale last year, a 93-year-old woman with severe dementia was arrested and charged after an altercation with her elderly husband. Her family said their mother was confused and should not have been charged.

The Crown dropped the case; but officers must follow policies and procedures when investigating and lay charges where reasonable grounds exist.

“There is no discretion to decide not to lay a charge when grounds exist to do so,” the Grey Detachment said in a statement relating to the charge.

Given the County’s demographics, local officers will likely investigate a similar case at some point in the future.

Community partnerships and relationships with care coordinators, healthcare providers, and long-term care facilities are paramount. “The good news is there’s an opportunity for early intervention. Through our partnerships, we are able to offer supports and services to prevent further escalation and keep folks from going down a different road.” 

According to the local 2025 OPP victim and accused analytic data, the overwhelming majority of IPV cases involved persons between the ages of 25 and 45. In many of those cases, a family dynamic needs addressing.

“When the police come in, we disrupt somebody’s family by placing someone on conditions not to be in that home. So if that’s a parent, then the parent that’s staying in the home is now by themselves parenting. So what does that look like? How are we navigating that? Part of that lies on us to make the appropriate report, supports and referrals to the appropriate agencies, and part of my job is to follow up,” Mr. Miller explained.

In 2025, over 1,800 staffing hours went to non-Criminal Code IPV investigations. A neighbour hears intense arguing next door and reports it, or a child calls 911 while their parents are having a heated disagreement. Such calls can be preventative, allowing police to intervene early.

“We are lucky in Prince Edward County to have such incredible community partners such as Alternatives for Women and Three Oaks. We work closely with them to support survivors and victims of IPV and other abuse related cases”.