False allegations of domestic assault are made to police for various reasons. Sometimes the complainant is feeling vindictive and knows they can tarnish your image by giving a statement alleging abuse. This vindictive behaviour can emerge during divorce and child custody battles.
In 2017, Statistics Canada reported that more than one in 10 incidents of violent crime were classified as unfounded. The report explains that the “unfounded” means that it was “determined through police investigation that the offence reported did not occur, nor was it attempted.” Physical assault, the most common type of violent crime, accounted for the highest volume of unfounded criminal incidents among violent crimes.