What happens if I call the police?

If you call 911, a police car will be sent to your home. When the police arrive, let them in. Even if you do not agree or your partner tries to stop them from coming in, the police can enter your home if:

they have reasonable grounds to believe that a crime took place, or is about to take place, or
you or someone else called 911.

You can tell the police:

you want to talk to them privately
exactly what happened, and whether you were assaulted, threatened, or suffered any other kind of abuse
if the abuse has happened before
if any weapons were used and whether there are other weapons in your home
if there are children or others who need help
if anybody saw or heard the incident or assault
if you feel unsafe

It is not up to you what happens next. The police decide what happens next. They may decide to:

charge your partner with a crime
charge you with a crime
charge you both with a crime
not charge anyone
contact the Children’s Aid Society if they think your child has been harmed or is at risk of harm

You can ask the police:

to take pictures of your injuries
to help you leave, or to take you to a shelter
to give you their names and badge numbers
to refer you to Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario, for support and help to deal with your safety concerns, and for information about the Victim Quick Response Program+. See Compensation for victims of crime and Are there other options that protect me?
for the information in the occurrence report, including the occurrence or incident number

Parts 4 and 5 have more information about the criminal process.

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