Incidents of intimate partner violence higher in 2024 than year prior: Ottawa police

The sign outside Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. is seen in this undated photo. (Aaron Reid/CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Police Service says it saw an increase in reported cases of intimate partner violence in the capital in 2024 compared to the year before.

Figures released Wednesday show there were 6,636 reports of intimate partner violence in Ottawa in 2024, leading to at least 3,355 charges, with some investigations still ongoing. In 2023, police responded to 6,547 incidents and laid 3,820 charges.

“Violence against women and gender-based violence (GBV) is an epidemic which affects us all and we are hoping that by releasing this information, we can shed light on the realities facing women and girls in our communities,” said deputy police chief Trish Ferguson in a news release.

The statistics provided Wednesday include all incidents of intimate partner violence across all victims in the city. Seventy-nine per cent of victims of intimate partner violence in 2024 were women or girls, while 20.5 per cent were men or boys. Nearly half of all victims (48 per cent) were between 30 and 45 years old. Seven per cent were under 18.

Some of the most common charges that were laid last year in connection with intimate partner violence include assault, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, harassing communications, and breach of recognizance.

Three femicides in 2024

Ottawa police made headlines in 2024 as the first police service in Canada to specifically identify a killing as a femicide – defined as the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. It was used two more times in connection with killings in Ottawa.

The killing of Jennifer Zabarylo, 47, on Aug. 25, 2024, was the first time the police service officially used the term. Her husband, Michael Zabarylo, was charged with second-degree murder.

Ottawa police used the term again following the death of Brkti Berhe, 36, on Oct. 24, 2024. She was killed in broad daylight in a public park in front of her children. Fsha Tekhle, 36, who police said had a “domestic relationship with a family member” of Berhe’s was charged with first-degree murder.

The Christmas Day killing of Jolene Arreak, 46, at a home on Spadina Avenue was also classified by Ottawa police as a femicide. Manasi Foo, 35, is charged with second-degree murder in her death.

“The Ottawa Police Service also builds on the definition recommended by our Violence Against Women (VAW) community partners as ‘the misogynist killing of women and girls because of their gender, overwhelmingly committed by men,’” police said.

The Ottawa Police Service hired two “risk navigators” in late 2023 and early 2024 to assist victims of intimate partner violence who contact police. The program came as a result of requests following the murder of Hanadi Mohammed in 2021 at the hands of her estranged husband.

Risk navigators review calls for service of domestic disputes that do not lead to a charge to assess for risk and vulnerability of victims after police become involved. They offer supports and information about the legal process and other resources. The Ottawa Police Service says it has also partnered with Ottawa Muslim Community Services to directly refer Muslim women for culturally appropriate supports.

“In our continued commitment to bring awareness to the increased rates of violence against women in our city, the Ottawa Police will be releasing annual and semi-annual statistics on Intimate Partner Violence moving forward,” Ferguson said.

Demographics of victims of partner related offenses are as follows:

Per age group:

• 7 per cent were under the age of 18;
• 28 per cent were 18-29 years old;
• 48 per cent were 30-45 years old;
• 14 per cent were 46-59 years old;
• 3 per cent were over the age of 60.

Per gender:

• 79 per cent identified as female;
• 20.5 per cent identified as male;
• 0.5 per cent unknown.