An investigation was initiated last week by the Weyburn Police Service following a complaint of unwanted messages sent from another person. The investigation revealed the messages to be in breach of the senders' conditions.
Deputy Chief Shane St. John explains they were arrested and charged with failing to comply with release conditions.
“They were on conditions to have no contact and then continued to contact that person. They were breached, depending on the seriousness of the breach, depending on if it's a continuing offence, they can be held and taken before a judge to decide if they're a risk to that other party, and if they should they be let out in public.”
While the messages were unlawful, St. John explains they were not of a threatening nature as this would have resulted in further charges.
“If there were threats involved, they'd have another charge besides the breach, they'd have a breach and then another for uttering threats, and if it continued, you might have a criminal harassment charge as well, depending on the situation.”
St. John says they always recommend victims block those under a no contact order with them, whether on the phone or over social media. He explains that regardless of the content or intent behind the message, it can retraumatize the victim.
“Even if there's a no contact, if that person wants to contact, they're going to try to do it through social media or in person, unfortunately. It can retraumatize a victim if the person that's not supposed to have contact with them continues to contact them.”
“We don't want that contact in any way and if blocking is the best thing to make them feel safer, that that's completely understandable and we'd encourage that.”