Sexual assaults in Moose Jaw have increased 69 per cent this year compared to 2020, with many incidents involving children or adults who know each other.
There were 49 sexual assaults from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, compared to 29 such assaults to the same point last year, according to statistics that the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) presented during the recent Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
Overall, there have been 249 total assaults year-to-date, compared to 233 such incidents during the same time last year, an increase of 6.9 per cent. The statistics for this year versus last year show:
- Sexual assaults: 49 / 29
- Common assaults: 146 / 150
- Assault with weapon/cause bodily harm: 38 / 47
- Aggravated assault: five / 0
- Assault on police: 11 / 7
Police concerned
“Sexual assaults obviously constitute a serious assault against a person, so it’s something we monitor. I think primarily our criminal investigation section is usually involved in one way or another in almost all sexual assault files,” said Supt. Taylor Mickleborough.
Police have dug into the data and are seeing a “slight increase” in allegations of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching, both of which are committed against children, he continued. The police have been proactive in this area, while creating these internet child exploitation (ICE) files has led to investigations into other issues.
The total increase in sexual assaults this year over 2020 is concerning, although this area is similar to 2018 since there has been an increase in two files over that year, Mickleborough pointed out.
The MJPS is aware that sexual assaults are an underreported crime across the nation, while for every person who steps forward, evidence suggests there are “many more that go unreported.”
“That’s something that we’re looking for ways to increase the trust in police, increase the number of people who feel comfortable coming forward to police to seek help … ,” he said. “It’s also worth noting that … the vast, vast majority of them (files), there is a relationship of some sort between the suspect and the victim.
“We only had a few files reported to us where it was an unknown suspect,” Mickleborough added. “The vast majority, there’s either a familial relationship or some sort of an acquaintance in these situations.”
Crimes against people
Total crimes against people have decreased by 5.3 per cent this year compared to last year, with incidents dropping to 448 from 473, the data shows. Other data comparing this year versus last shows:
• Homicide: 0 / 1
• Attempted murder: 2 / 3
• Robbery: 5 / 9
• Threats: 47 / 87
• Domestic disputes: 145 / 140
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 14.
