With the increased use of dating and “hook-up” apps in Saskatoon, comes the increased risk to users and their personal safety.
The danger of sexual assault is a big concern when it comes to these types of meet ups, especially when meeting someone for the first time.
Staff Sargent James Repesse with the Saskatoon Police says the same rules should apply as when you meet someone in any other setting.
“If you don’t know somebody, I would recommend that you meet in a public place at first. If you do have access to social media for that person, I would definitely check out some of their other social media profiles to make sure they all match the same kind of information. There are instances where people are perpetrating themselves as something they’re not, with false information, we do have instances of people using social media to lure individuals into situations like that.”
Social media and dating apps are a newer avenue for meeting people, the danger increased by not knowing who is on the other end. In contrast to meeting someone through friends or at a social event, internet dating can lack the benefit of having any connection to the other person before meeting them.
Another danger the internet has brought to light is the idea of “sextortions”. Where people extort others after a meeting or multiple encounters by threatening to reveal their sexual activity, explicit images or personal conversations.
When it relates to adults and explicit images, especially when it comes to intimate partner relationships Staff Sargent Repesse explains the domestic violence unit deals with those cases.
“This is one of those things that 10 years ago we didn’t really have to deal with as much. A lot of that was actually because we really didn’t have any of laws in the books in the criminal code for distribution of explicit images.”
Repesse added that some of these cases result from a scorned relationship that leads to the police having to investigate peoples images being put online. He provided information on what to do if an offense is committed against you.
“If it’s a sexual assault, immediately calling the police is tantamount for us to make sure that we can help survivors of sexual assault, get them into the proper medical, make sure we’re preserving evidence and making sure we’re getting this reported as soon as possible. With explicit images, report it to the police. A lot of victims of that crime have made contact with the internet websites or wherever their photos have turned up and have had them removed.”
He added the issue with that is that once images are out on the internet it is difficult to retract all of those things, and when meeting others or engaging in behaviour where you share intimate conversations or images, it should always come with a personal bit of caution.
