Domestic violence involving weapons jumps 70% in Calgary, police cite economy as factor

Domestic violence is becoming more common and more severe in Calgary, a problem police believe islikely related to the economic downturn.

Police received 3,282 calls aboutdomestic violence in 2015, marking a 10percent increase from the year before.

Domestic assaults involving weapons, specifically,increased by 70 per cent over 2014, according to police data.

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"I do want to stress that unemployment is not a cause of domestic violence, but it is one of many stressors," Staff Sgt. Rob Davidson of the domestic conflict unit told reporters.

He saidissues around power and control, addictions, anger and exposure to violence can be exasperated by unemployment.

"In no way does it excuse it," Davidson said.

There were 14,678 domestic conflict calls, in total, in 2015.

Of those,77 per centof wereverbal altercations that escalatedor requests for police to be there as a partner moved out of ahome.

Physical violence was involved in 17 per cent of all callslast year.

Experts say the nature of domestic conflictcan vary but violence rarely occurs in isolated incidents.

"Healthy relationships should be based on equality, respect, open communication and boundaries,"said Maggie MacKillop, executive director of Homefront,a non-profit agency that assistsfamilies dealing with domestic violence.

As soon as police lay charges,Homefront is involved. Itsupports about 5,000people each year.

Police said the vast majority of domestic conflict victims were women, butapproximately one in five were men.

Anyone experiencing violence in their homeor concerned their situation could escalateis encouraged to reach out for support,including calling the police.