The Saskatchewan RCMP says its officers responded to more domestic and intimate partner violence incidents in 2023 than municipal police, surpassing both provincial and national rates.

Provincial RCMP statistics for 2023 showed rates of intimate partner violence increased to 813 reports per 100,000 population, while rates of family violence were 890 reports per 100,000.

That compares to provincial rates of 710 and 741 per 100,000, RCMP said. Provincial rates cover both municipal police services and RCMP detachments.

“Crime statistics shared by the Saskatchewan RCMP earlier this year indicate that calls to police service for incidents of domestic and intimate partner violence have increased by 13 (per cent) over the past five years across the jurisdiction, with regional increases of 19 (percent) in the Central District, 14 (percent) in the Northern District and (seven percent) in the Southern District during the same period,” the statement said.

RCMP say intimate partner violence includes physical or sexual assault, harassment, threats and other violence by a current or former common-law partner, boyfriend/girlfriend or other intimate partner.

Domestic violence is a broader category, RCMP say, and includes violence by a spouse as well as a parent, stepparent, sibling, child or other family relationship.

“It can happen to anyone and we see it in all socioeconomic circumstances,” said Sgt. Kim Stewart said in the statement.

Stewart is part of a unit that specializes in domestic and intimate partner violence investigations, offender risk assessments and keeping victims safe from other incidents, RCMP said.

RCMP say both forms of domestic violence increased across Canada in 2023.