(Prince Albert Safe Shelter for Women)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime Stats

Sexual assaults climbing in Prince Albert: police report

Jan 27, 2021 | 1:59 PM

The assistant director of Prince Albert’s Safe Shelter for Women says more education and awareness is needed to help lower the number of sexual assaults that occur in the city.

Sherry Bates is responding to statistics discussed during Monday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting. The total sexual violations reported to and investigated by officers in 2020 was 126, which represented an increase of one-per-cent over the previous year when there were 124 incidents reported. Bates told paNOW the numbers only reflect the incidents that are reported, adding more supports are needed to assist survivors.

“I know some of our clients are reluctant to [report] because in the past they have not been listened to or it’s a degrading, demeaning thing to discuss when you are all alone,” Bates said.

The graph above shows the total year and 5-year average of sexual violations reported. (Prince Albert Police)

The Prince Albert shelter is among the busiest shelters in the province, and Bates said they are fortunate their operations have not directly affected by COVID. No one has been turned away and there’s been no positive cases at the shelter. With that being said, Bates said COVID has had an impact on the number of incidents occurring within the city.

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“When the CERB money ran out, our crisis calls increased and the level of violence therefore increased as well,” she said.

According to the city’s five year trend, 2020 was the year with the highest number of reported incidents. According to statistics provided by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, 70 per cent of spousal violence is not reported to police.

The foundation also cites half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16; and on any given night, over 6,000 women and children in Canada sleep in shelters because it isn’t safe to sleep at home.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell