Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Jun 03/98) - Police suspect it happens in several homes in each community every night.

"The real problem is the ones that don't get reported -- I would hazard to guess that there's a half a dozen of those every night (in Rankin Inlet)," said Const. Steve Halliday of the Rankin Inlet RCMP detachment.

Corp. Greg Brown agreed that there are many assaults that go unreported. "It's (the stats) not a true reflection of what goes on," he said.

But Brown said that calling the police and charging the abuser with assault can be the first step toward getting out of the abusive relationship and seeking help. Community agencies like the women's shelter, health centre and social services work together with the RCMP to provide help for victims of abuse.

"It takes a lot of courage to tell -- that's the biggest part -- getting the courage to get help," he said. "It's the start of the healing process."

While it is easier to lay a charge if the victim gives police a statement, Brown said that they can do it if they can see bruises or other signs an assault took place.

"If we can get any evidence of domestic assault, charges will be laid ... we have no discretion and the court system deals with it. (But) we need some kind of evidence."

Halliday estimated that between 15 and 25 per cent of his time is spent dealing with spousal assaults, at least 90 per cent committed by men. And 90 per cent of all kinds of assault are alcohol-related.

Brown is quick to point out that these figures aren't unique to Rankin Inlet or any other community in the North.

"It's no different here. It's a problem across Canada and it knows no socio-economic boundaries," he said. "If you can eliminate the stigma of ratting on your husband -- that's a big problem."

And given the fact that there is no road out of many communities in Nunavut, it's more difficult to leave, said Brown.

"There's nowhere to run -- it's tougher."

The isolation of Northern communities stresses the importance of safe shelters like the one in Rankin Inlet. The facility provides a safe place where women can be away from the violence they experience in their own homes.

"We've investigated cases that the windows have been broken (at the shelter)," he said.

Now the windows are plexiglass to make the facility more secure.