YWCA Fresh Start start 3:Layout 1 - YWCA Canada

YWCA CANADA | A TURNING POINT FOR WOMENLet the police know that you have a safety plan in place, that you aretaking the children to a safe place and that you can look after them.In some provinces and territories, if the police suspect that yourchildren are in danger of emotional or physical abuse and that you donot have the means to shelter them from abuse or from witnessingabuse, they may be required to contact a child welfare agency. In somecommunities, the police automatically report all domestic violencecalls where there are children in the home to the child protectionauthorities.For more information on what to do when children are involved, seethose sections of this book.As soon as possible after an assault, write accurate, detailed notesabout what happened, how you were injured and how you felt. Thesenotes will be useful if you go to court.Whether or not the police lay charges, they must complete an“occurrence report.” Ask to have a copy and make sure to take downthe name, badge number and contact information of the officer incharge for future reference.Even if you are not ready to leave your partner yet, keep all yourdocumented evidence, including your own notes on the assault, in asafe place. Many women who have had a traumatic experience are notable to remember exactly what happened at the time.Reviewing your notes from time to time, especially if your partnertreats you well for a time after the incident and you hope it will nothappen again, will at least help you to see if there is a pattern to hisbehaviour.It will also help you to keep your safety plans in your head all thetime. This is very important, because the abuse usually returns. Keeptrack of different incidents by sticking to who, what, when, where andwhy.It is also helpful if you keep any written or recorded evidence ofabuse, such as phone messages, instant messages, texts, email andnotes or cards.WHAT HAPPENS IF THE POLICE LAY CRIMINALCHARGES?In Canada, some abusive actions are considered criminal offences44