Looking to prior encounters with the police can help prevent domestic violence

If we want to prevent domestic violence, we need to work with men, and remove the burden from survivors by focusing our attention and resources on the people and systems that cause harm. (Shutterstock)

Most sexual violence and domestic violence crimes in Canada are male-perpetrated. Data from Statistics Canada shows that men commit 99 per cent of sexual assaults against women and are significantly more likely to offend criminally, including violent crime. Recent data indicates that nearly nine in 10 victims (89 per cent) of police-reported sexual assaults were women and girls between 2015 and 2019.

These statistics paint a grim picture. However, the key to ending domestic violence is hiding in plain sight.