Domestic violence files up 30 percent according to MHPS report

He says it’s unfortunate these events are occurring more during the stressful times of the pandemic.

And family violence remains a focus for police.

Police reported 1,509 domestic violence files in 2020, compared to 2019 where there were 1,172.

That’s an increase of 29 percent.

According to the report, in 2020 there were 284 charges and 1,377 referrals.

2019 had 272 charges and 801 referrals. Charges increased in 2020 by 4 percent over 2019.

Courtesy: MHPS 2020 Annual Report

Worden says police couldn’t do the work they do without partnerships like the women’s shelter as they work hand in hand.

“For us, it’s so important to keep connected with them and try to find out what trends they’re experiencing so that we ensure our programs are aligned whether it’s increases or decreases to their services,” he added.

Police also recognize programs like Clare’s Law and believe that will make a difference in preventing domestic violence.

Worden says for police, it’s ensuring they have the proper investigative teams and making sure victims have ways of reporting.

“And that can be difficult too in a COVID environment. We have seen access to shelters and those types of resources decrease somewhat, but that has more to do with the ability for domestic violence victims being able to access those because people are home more and the ability to get out of the house and seek supports makes it more difficult,” he said.

And for investigative teams, it’s not always about enforcement. Worden says it’s about having conversations with families struggling and working with people, counselling, and getting people to certain resources is important.

The Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter says they’re still seeing an increase in the rates of domestic violence.

Natasha Carvalho says their Safe Families Intervention Team (SFIT) is in collaboration with MHPS. They assist clients facing domestic violence with outreach work and support services.

Support referrals by SFIT staff to social agencies also increased by 72 percent. The report says the increase was attributed to SFIT staff’s greater focus on monitoring all files related to domestic violence.

Carvalho says they knew there were a lot of people, women specifically, who were trapped at home with their abuser during the pandemic.

And those were the ones in bad situations they were really worried about.

“So we knew that even though they weren’t able to leave because they were trapped at home, definitely through the SFIT program we were seeing an increase in calls so they were managing to get to a bathroom, a garage, or front yard and make some calls for support so our staff was really busy and outreach supporting those families during that time definitely,” she told Chat News.

Carvalho says they are seeing a trend with families that they haven’t worked with before and new people being impacted. Which is part of the domino effect of the pandemic including job loss and mental health.

She reminds us that the women’s shelter is open and here for the community 24/7.

Carvalho urges if you need help to reach out to them, and you do not physically have to come to the shelter to access their supports.

Meantime, fraud-related calls have more than doubled since 2018 in our city. Likely a result of the depressed economy as a result of COVID-19.

Despite that, Medicine Hat Police saw 2,000 fewer calls for service in 2020 and have seen that number drop by 9 percent over the last three years.

Worden says it’s positive news for the service and the community, adding they’re still evaluating why that is.

For the full MHPS 2020 annual report, visit this link.

by Chantal Wagner

Domestic violence files up 30 percent according to MHPS report

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