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Sections & Units
Our Mission:
"To optimize public safety
in the City of Calgary"
Major Crimes Section
Child Abuse Unit
Children are the focus of the staff sergeant and 9 detectives assigned to the Calgary Police Service Child Abuse Unit. The unit investigates all cases of sexual abuse of children under the age of 14 years, as well as cases of severe physical abuse. Less severe physical abuse is investigated by the Child at Risk Response Team (CARRT) officer or officers from the appropriate district.
The majority of the 400 to 600 cases reported to the unit each year are complaints about the welfare of a child. Most unit investigations are jointly done with an investigator from Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Authority.
Officers assigned to the unit take a series of courses in interviewing children and investigating these difficult cases. Charges are laid in about half of the cases investigated by the unit, with about 95 per cent of those charged being convicted in court.
The nature of the cases investigated by the Child Abuse Unit makes them very difficult. The victims are children, those most vulnerable in our society. But getting a conviction and forever changing a child's life for the better is the ultimate reward for the dedicated officers of this unit.
What is child abuse?
Child abuse includes the physical or sexual mistreatment or neglect of a child by a parent, guardian or caregiver, which may result in physical or psychological harm to the child. Both girls and boys are at risk, as well as children and young people who are physically and developmentally challenged.
The Child Abuse Unit investigates reports of physical and sexual abuse. Reports of neglect are investigated by Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Authority or the Child at Risk Response Team (CARRT), a joint initiative of child and family services and police.
Types of Abuse
- Physical abuse:
The deliberate use of force on a child's body, which may result in an injury; often connected to punishment or confused with discipline.
- Sexual abuse:
Any sexual exploitation of a child whether consented to or not. It includes any behaviour of a sexual nature towards a child by an older child or an adult. The age of consent is 14 years.
- Neglect:
Consists of omission on the part of the parent or caregiver to provide the basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, or to provide adequate medical care or adequate supervision to prevent injury.
Who the victims are and signs to look for
Child sexual abuse is still one of the most hidden secrets in our community today. The effects of this type of abuse on children are not always visible and therefore can be hard to detect unless you are aware of the signs. Help end the abuse by becoming aware of what child sexual abuse is, the signs that may mean a child is being abused and how to get help for children and parents.
It can happen to anyone:
- Four out of five victims of sexual abuse know the offender.
- Three out of four victims are female.
- One out of four victims is male.
- Seven out of 10 attacks happen in a location known to the victim.
- 98 per cent of the sex offenders are male.
Signs of possible sexual abuse:
- Sexual behaviours
- Sudden change in behaviour
- Complaints of frequent headaches, stomach aches, pains in vaginal or anal area
- Aggressive and rebellious behaviour
- Bed-wetting
- Poor peer relationships
- Change in eating habits
- Depressed/suicidal
- Poor self-esteem
- Nightmares, sleep problems
- Fear of being alone
- Feelings of shame or guilt
What you can do
- Believe the child.
- Get medical attention quickly if needed.
- Reassure the child and tell them that you know it's hard to talk about it.
- Try not to show your feelings.
- Don't try to handle the situation yourself, but show support.
- Contact the Calgary Police Service or Calgary Rocky View Child and Family Services.
Victims of sexual abuse need to report the abuser. How the child reacts mentally to the abuse depends on the age of the child, how grown up they are at handling their feelings, the kind of abuse they are dealing with, how long the abuse has been going on and their relationship to the offender.
Resources and links
Resources for Parents Who Need Help
Upated: Friday, September 14, 2007 2:23 PM --kg
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