The murder of 29-year-old Brampton mother of four, Savannah Kulla, has put a devastating spotlight back on the rising crisis of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Brampton and Mississauga.
Kulla, who police say was shot and killed by her estranged partner while he was out on bail, has become the tragic symbol of an issue Peel leaders and frontline officers describe as a “scourge.” Her death has renewed urgent calls for action as new statistics show IPV continues to escalate across the region.
Peel police revealed that from January 1 to October 31 of this year, officers responded to 14,107 family and intimate partner violence calls — an average of 46 IPV-related calls every single day. Chief Nishan Duraiappah told Peel Region council that this means officers attend two domestic-related incidents every hour, reflecting a four per cent increase over last year.
Detective Pamela Parkin, who leads Peel police’s intimate partner violence unit, told Brampton council that 78 per cent of victims in Brampton and Mississauga are women. She emphasized that IPV remains the number-one call for service received by Peel police, with charges most often involving assault, threats, assault with a weapon, and choking or strangulation.
Strangulation, in particular, is a major red flag. Police issued 553 strangulation charges in 2024, and Parkin noted that half of all IPV homicide victims had survived at least one previous strangulation attempt. Victims of strangulation are seven times more likely to be killed by their partner, she warned.
Frontline officers are also at heightened personal risk when responding to these calls, especially when suspects have a documented history of strangulation or escalating violence.
Local leaders say the region is struggling to meet the scale of the crisis. Both Brampton and Mississauga councils continue to press provincial and federal governments to strengthen bail laws and expand funding for shelters, support programs, and emergency housing for women fleeing dangerous situations.
“This is an area where we are challenged,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown told council. “Intimate partner violence is going up and it’s gone up at a staggering level. As a society, we haven’t reached the point where there is zero tolerance, the way we did with drunk driving.”
Mississauga Coun. Natalie Hart echoed the urgency, noting a lack of accessible shelter space and calling for “more tangible action” so that victims seeking immediate help aren’t left searching in desperation.
Peel Region declared IPV an epidemic in 2023 — and with cases rising, leaders warn that without stronger safeguards and better resources, tragedies like Kulla’s will continue to haunt the community.