High rates of domestic violence in SK

A new Stats Canada report says Saskatchewan has one of the highest numbers of family violence reported to police.

Diane Delaney is the coordinator of the Provincial Association of Transition Houses and she says these numbers are a major concern because domestic violence is under reported.

“Violence within relationships is more common than we would want it to be,” she said.

“Typically it's been a problem that has been seen as a very private issue and our work over the years of course is to make it more public.”

More and more, Delaney is seeing victims of dating violence and spousal abuse starting at younger ages.

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Deb George of Family Service Regina agrees that abuse starts at a younger age.

“So if there's interventions that are to happen, they're likely to be most effective if they happen early on.”

George also pointed out that Saskatchewan courts offer program options for cases of spousal abuse, to treat the problem, rather than just punish people for it.

Saskatchewan had the fifth highest number of victims reported per capita behind the territories and Manitoba.

Delaney noted that sometimes even police reports are not generated after they get a call in a case of domestic violence.

However, George thinks it's possible that Regina Police are good at doing those reports, giving the Queen City a higher number.

Delaney points out that provinces and territories with more victims also have more people in isolated areas.

“I think we have to look at economic discrepancies, inequality that we know create more violence,” she said.

Delaney encourages any victims of domestic violence to phone the abuse help lines listed on page three in any phone book.
 

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