Calgary, AB,
03
November
2022
|
09:15
America/Denver

Calgary police note downward trends in domestic violence for Family Violence Prevention Month

Each year we recognize Family Violence Prevention Month in November, along with other partner agencies and communities across Alberta. This provincial initiative aims to bring awareness to the complex issue of domestic violence and spark open and honest conversations in the interest of encouraging Calgarians to learn more about what resources are available and how they can help others.

Reports of domestic violence incidents to the Calgary Police Service continue to reflect a decrease, a trend first noted in 2019 that has generally remained consistent.

“We respond to approximately 20,000 calls a year related to domestic violence,” says Acting Staff Sergeant Glenn Andruschuk of the Calgary Police Service Domestic Conflict Unit. “Our statistics and reporting continue to show that, generally speaking, calls for service relating to actual incidents of domestic violence are decreasing, whereas domestic conflict reporting is increasing. This means that Calgarians are reaching out for help and being connected to the necessary supports and resources before a violent act occurs.”

Domestic conflict reporting refers to people recognizing a potentially dangerous domestic situation and placing a call for help. These non-criminal calls can include verbal altercations that escalated to the point that police were called or situations where one party asked police to be present during an interaction with an intimate partner or family member. This increase shows that members of the public are calling police and looking for community support before the situation escalates to violence.

By the numbers:

2019 – 2022 Domestic Violence Incidents

 

2019

2020

2021

2022

January

423

361

297

243

February

399

312

319

260

March

404

330

311

250

April

376

313

280

280

May

390

343

317

274

June

347

330

344

240

July

387

391

348

316

August

399

385

325

280

September

390

336

323

227

October

359

363

283

 

November

363

320

291

 

December

429

363

280

 

Year-End

4,666

4,147

3,718

 



2019 – 2022 Domestic Reporting

 

2019

2020

2021

2022

January

1,165

1,182

1,240

1,341

February

1,014

1,168

1,084

1,247

March

1,173

1,360

1,391

1,332

April

1,059

1,415

1,250

1,297

May

1,144

1,491

1,295

1,390

June

1,250

1,390

1,339

1,343

July

1,296

1,460

1,504

1,493

August

1,224

1,411

1,353

1,328

September

1,159

1,285

1,298

1,333

October

1,091

1,265

1,339

 

November

1,050

1,154

1,264

 

December

1,214

1,331

1,372

 

Year-End

13,839

15,912

15,729

 

 

Domestic violence is a complex problem that can only be addressed when everyone in the community works together to end it. Abuse thrives in silence. We encourage Calgarians to take time this month to:

  • Learn how you can reach out and support someone you know, or suspect might be in an abusive or violent relationship.

     
  • Be an open and accepting friend if someone discloses their experience with abuse – saying “I believe you” goes a long way.

     
  • Talk to your children about what kinds of behaviours are healthy in a relationship and which ones are not.

     
  • Donate to organizations that work to support families affected by domestic and sexual violence.

     
  • Volunteer with organizations that work to support families affected by domestic and sexual violence.

Calgarians experiencing abuse or violence in an intimate or family relationship are always encouraged to reach out for help. There are countless agencies ready to offer support that can be contacted simply by calling 211. The Family Violence Helpline is available 24/7 at 403-234-SAFE (7233).

We also encourage you to call the Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818 which is available 24/7 and in more than 170 languages from anywhere in Alberta. If phone calls are not available to you, we encourage you to use the Alberta Safety Chat Line, by clicking HERE. This chat line is available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. MST in English.

Victims of domestic violence can also contact the Calgary Police Service anytime by calling the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, or 9-1-1 if you are in immediate danger.