Tamara Aspell, executive director of Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre, is very disturbed by the recent dramatic increase in domestic violence homicides across the province. Lyonel Doherty Photo.
The new executive director of Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre is disturbed by a recent report on domestic violence homicides in BC.
“My initial reaction is one of shock – family and sexualized violence is the most under-reported crimes across our nation,” said Tamara Aspell, referring to the report by the BC Coroners Service (BCCS).
The report examines the number of homicides resulting from intimate partner violence (IPV) over the past decade.
The statistics cover the period from January 1, 2004, through December 15, 2014. In that time period, the average number of persons who died each year from intimate partner violence was 13.9. For the current year to date, the number is 14. About three-quarters of the victims were female.
An IPV death is defined as one in which the death occurred as a result of injuries inflicted by a current or former intimate partner (spouse, whether married or common-law, or dating partner).
Over the last 10 years, the number of IPV homicides ranged from a high of 23 in 2008 to a low of seven in 2013.
The total IPV homicides since 2004 was 153. Of those, 113 were female and 40 were male. Nine were children (under the age of 19) and 144 were adults over 19 years of age.
Aspell said IPV crimes are avoidable and unnecessary when community stakeholders work together to keep families, women and children safe from violence in their homes.
Aspell finds it interesting that the BCCS reports that “the number of cases each year is fewer than 25.”
“As though this number is low. Each of the 25 souls that were lost could have been avoided; it should have been zero.”
Aspell said Desert Sun’s Crisis Line provided service in 660 crisis calls last year alone – offering support with child custody battles through to suicide intervention.
Desert Sun offers free services in Oliver and Osoyoos, including coping skills for violence or conflict in the home or relationships.
People who need help can call 250-495-2623 in Osoyoos, or 250-498-2538 in Oliver.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
