Fewer referrals to victim services organizations being accepted
Acceptance rate for police referrals falls for second consecutive year
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Fewer victims of crime and other incidents in Wellington County are accepting police referrals to support agencies this year, compared to same period in 2024 and 2025.
From January through July, 298 referrals to victim service agencies were accepted, according to data in a report to the Wellington County OPP police board.
That’s a decline from the 375 referrals accepted during the same period in 2025, and from 342 referrals accepted in 2024, according to the report.
This year, police offered 968 referrals from January through July, down from 1,095 in 2025, but up from 937 in 2024. This year’s acceptance rate is 31%, down from 34% during the same time in 2025, and 36% in 2024.
Wellington County OPP officers refer to Victim Services Wellington, shelters, children/youth services, and IMPACT, a mental health crisis team.
Referrals are a part of protocols for many occurrences, especially those involving trauma, violence or victimization, Wellington County OPP spokesperson Matthew Burton stated in an email. Officers will share information about community resources and help connect victims.
The report breaks down referrals by the type of occurrence for June and July only.
In those months, 19 per cent of police referrals – just 21 of 112 – to victims of intimate partner violence were accepted.
For all other types of occurrences combined during the same two months – including assaults, threats, harassment and sudden deaths – 39% of referrals, or 70 of the 180 referrals made, were accepted.
That’s more than double the rate of acceptances for victims of intimate partner violence, according to the data.
Burton said victims of partner violence often face complicated circumstances affecting a decision to accept outside help.
“A decision to decline a referral to a support agency should not be seen as a lack of need for assistance,” Burton said.
“Victims may choose to seek support at a later time … or seek alternate pathways before engaging community resources.”
