Women officers remain significantly underrepresented in most police services in Canada despite evidence suggesting they are often preferred by victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, are less likely to use force, and may be better at de-escalating tense situations.

In only nine of the country’s 75 local police services with at least 100 officers did women make up 30 per cent or more of the uniformed frontline and senior officers who comprise the sworn ranks, according to a new analysis by the Local News Data Hub at Toronto Metropolitan University.