26% of gender-based homicide victims previously contacted police: StatCan

New data from Statistics Canada reveals a concerning pattern in gender-based homicides: a substantial number of victims had previously sought help from the police. The statistics indicate that 26% of victims had contacted law enforcement prior to their deaths.

This figure highlights a critical gap in protection or intervention for individuals experiencing domestic violence or abuse. The data further underscores the severity of the issue, showing that 49% of victims were victimized at least once by the same individual who was later accused of their homicide. This proportion is significantly higher, at least six times greater, than that observed among other homicide victims.

The findings suggest that for many victims of gender-based homicide, the perpetrator was someone known to them, and in nearly half of these cases, the victim had already endured prior incidents of violence from the same individual. This information raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of current systems in preventing intimate partner violence and protecting individuals at high risk.

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victimized at least once by the same person later accused of their homicide, a proportion at least six times greater than other homicide victims.