Domestic violence fears rise along with province's COVID-19 cases
As cases of COVID-19 surge across Alberta, community groups are bracing for a worsening “shadow pandemic” of domestic violence.
Domestic violence-related calls to Edmonton police have risen 16 per cent in 2020, which experts attribute in part to the pandemic.
According to city police statistics, there were 8,087 police-reported incidents of domestic violence in Edmonton between Jan. 1 and Nov. 15, including assaults, family disputes, breaches of court orders, and break and enters.
During the same period in each of the past three years, there had been an average of 6,976 such incidents.
Women's shelters and justice system groups are bracing for more violence this winter as cases rise and new public health restrictions take effect.
“You're getting a lot of messages, you know, `Stay home, stay safe,' ” said Jan Reimer, executive director of the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters. “But we also need women and children to know that (when) home isn't safe, there are options available to you and shelters are there to help.”
On Wednesday, Legal Aid Alberta, which provides legal representation for needy clients, held a virtual public event to explain Alberta's emergency protection order (EPO) system.
An EPO is a civil order under the Protection Against Family Violence Act, which gives immediate protection to people who have suffered physical abuse at the hands of a partner. The orders typically prevent an alleged abuser from contacting or being near a complainant.
Christina Riddoch, a Legal Aid lawyer and head of the Edmonton EPO program, said they have seen more friends, family and community organizations reaching out for advice on what to do if they suspect someone close to them is facing violence at home.
“You may not be the one who's facing the family violence situation, but it's very important for the community to be diligent in looking out for these signs.”
Between January and September, 2,703 EPO applications were filed in Alberta provincial courts. For comparison, 2,265 and 3,779 were filed in each of the last two fiscal years, respectively.
The orders are reviewed in the Court of Queen's Bench after nine business days, during which a judge can amend the EPO, rescind it or keep it in place for up to a year. EPO reviews were one of just a handful of court matters which weren't postponed during the height of the spring COVID restrictions.
Reimer said police and shelter workers are seeing women who've suffered severe violence, which she attributes to a “hunker down” mentality that arises during pandemics and other disasters.
Shelter demand spikes once the danger has passed, she said.
“I think part of what could be contributing to the increased severity of violence is women just really trying to stay put, tough it out.”
Many shelters, meanwhile, are facing capacity limitations to allow for physical distancing, and are short-staffed as employees self-isolate.
Some have started offering more outreach services digitally, “but as digital solutions are available ... perpetrators getting better and better at cyber violence, and tracking, and monitoring women's moves,” said Reimer.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, family violence is significantly under-reported, with just one in five abuse victims who responded to a 2014 survey saying they reported their abusive partner to police.