Requests for assistance in domestic violence have increased by 111% in Montreal between 2020 and 2021, rising from 931 to 1,964. in this type of file has also worsened considerably with the pandemic.
“It’s good news because it means that there is more help for the victims or the relatives of the victims. But, this is bad news because it means that there is more domestic violence, ”summarizes Jenny Charest, general manager of CAVAC Montreal.
She and the leaders of the Section specializing in domestic violence (SSVC) of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) presented the situation on Wednesday at a press conference, six months after the establishment of that particular police unit.
Nearly 7,000 cases related to domestic violence were handled by the SPVM last year. “This is a statistic of cases reported to the police. There has not really been an increase, but we know that there has been more violence, ”explains Anouk St-Onge, agent for the file within the SSVC.
Since not all episodes of domestic violence go through a formal legal complaint, the police often refer the victims to the CAVAC in order to defuse the situation. The number of these files referred by peace officers increased by 20% last year, from 2,243 to 2,682.
The intensity of violence has also increased. The shelters are “at maximum capacity” and “the distress experienced is acute”, assures Ms. Charest.
Moreover, it is not only spousal violence that has experienced a sharp increase last year. Requests for help by relatives of homicide victims increased by 115%, from 168 files to 361.
Further details will follow.
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