Although there have been instances of increased domestic disputes in some areas, the Sundre RCMP detachment's commander said that's probably due to people becoming more likely to call the police.
In other words, domestic disputes are not so much on the rise as are the numbers of people who report such incidents, said Sgt. Jim Lank during a presentation to council on Nov. 23.
The matter came up when Coun. Myron Thompson asked Lank whether rural communities like Sundre were experiencing such issues.
“I know it's on the rise in the cities — police can't keep up,” he said.
But it largely depends on the area, said Lank.
“To start with for Sundre and our rural areas, I don't see that happening here,” the sergeant said.
“If there is a rise in domestic violence cases it could very well be more due to the fact victims and people are reporting them more readily than years ago. So it's not necessarily a rise in domestic violence incidents but a rise in the reporting of them.”
Domestic disputes have what's called a “high dark figure.” This means people don't for various reasons get the police involved, said Lank.
“Over time there's been a change in that attitude. I think people are just reporting it more now.”
Also contributing to an increase in the numbers of reported domestic disputes is a change and expansion in the definition of the term.
“A file is treated as domestic violence if there is even so much as a disagreement and an argument between two people that are in a relationship, and if it's reported to us we define it as domestic violence.”
The sergeant attributed the increased likelihood of people reporting such incidents and the change in criteria for domestic disputes to be behind the alleged rise in reports.
“I really think probably it's more of those two factors than necessarily a rise in occurrences themselves.”
Thompson joked that men should be more like him.
“I have the last word in my house. My wife says ‘shut up', and I say ‘yes dear!'”
