One night this past summer, Sarah decided to have some girlfriends over for an evening of hot-tubbing and drinks.
Everyone was relaxed and enjoying each other’s company, that is until an argument began to erupt at the neighbour’s house – screaming, yelling and objects flying across the room.
The fighting isn’t just a nuisance, it’s disturbing, says Sarah, whose name has been changed to protect her identity as well as those of her neighbours.
“Enough is enough, we should not have to listen to this,” she says. “It’s troubling to see two people hurting each other and it’s disturbing to watch.”
Sarah has lived next door to her neighbours for nearly a decade. She has called the police to intervene on two occasions, but it has crossed her mind several times.
She says she must balance the concern she has for their wellbeing as well as her own safety.
“Do we call, or do we not? Are they going to come after you because they figure you’re sticking your nose in their business? You’re dealing with people who are violent.”
Sarah’s phone calls to police are two of the estimated 100 domestic assault calls the St. Albert RCMP receive every year.
Usually, the mere presence of police is enough to calm a domestic dispute down, says Sgt. Shawn French, program manager for the relationship violence division for the RCMP’s “K” Division.
He estimates in 2012, Alberta RCMP responded to more than 10,000 calls related to domestic violence.
“Unfortunately it’s a societal problem that not that long ago was thought of as a private matter. When we pull back the covers and expose these things, it becomes easier to talk about.”
Domestic violence has been a priority for RCMP over the last several years and it isn’t changing anytime soon, says French.
He encourages those who have witnessed domestic violence to call police, but emphasizes that people don’t get involved.
“For people that know someone in an abusive relationship … they need to be aware that if they do entangle themselves … they are at risk for violence.”
“If you are witnessing or hearing what you deem to be a conflict that is of sufficient intent to cause you to question whether someone’s safety is in jeopardy, then by all means, call the police,” says French.
RCMP officers will never divulge the identity of the caller to the parties involved in the dispute. If you are concerned for your safety, you can also report at the RCMP detachment or through a third party.
If you know someone who is involved in an abusive relationship, the best thing you can do is to be non-judgmental and supportive, says French.
“It might be that phone call that is the impetus for someone to get out of an abusive relationship. It might just simply take that one person.”
