(Montreal) Two weeks away from the 12 days of action against violence against women, the Association of Quebec Police Directors (ADPQ) encourages victims of domestic violence to report and ensures that Quebec police forces have tools to intervene.
Posted at 4:46 p.m.
Updated at 5:22 p.m.
On Wednesday morning, the ADPQ summoned the media to Place Bell in Laval to highlight the support that police officers can provide to victims of domestic violence. “We are here for you,” said Pierre Brochet, director of the Service de Police de Laval.
The ADPQ also stated that, for the past year, all police forces in Quebec have had units specializing in domestic violence. “Ask your local police force. We are very sensitive. We really have people to support you and follow up,” insisted Pierre Brochet.
“We are changing our field of intervention where we were perhaps very focused on the arrest of the aggressor. Here, we focus on the victim. We make sure to be with her until the end of the intervention,” added Marc Brisson, director of the Terrebonne Police Department.
Victim of domestic violence, Cassandre, who preferred to keep her identity confidential, spoke out publicly for the first time. “If you knew how many times I thought about filing a complaint but never did, for fear it would be worse afterwards,” said the mother, who endured 12 years of physical and psychological violence, harassment and threats.
It was with the domestic violence liaison officers of the Terrebonne Police Department, Martine Milton and Joëlle Laparé, that Cassandre made her denunciation, a process that she describes as “difficult, because it brings you back to what you have lived”.
She reported to the police station after fearing for her life and that of her son last February. “If I don’t denounce it, what will happen next,” she said to herself before taking the legal steps.
Officers Milton and Laparé have been responsible for “primary police resources for domestic violence” in Terrebonne since May 2021. The duo works with shelters and assistance centers for victims of crime.
“We work a lot with our shelters. When we see that a woman has an emotional overload, we make a direct conference call, ”explained Joëlle Laparé, in an interview.
The two police officers, who remain available to the victims as soon as the denunciation begins, offer “a safety net to ensure that a tragedy does not occur”, added agent Laparé. “It allows for continuous monitoring, but above all personalized. We return our calls within 24-48 hours. »
Cassandre recalled putting in hours and hours of writing to fill out her complaint and gather the necessary evidence with the police officers. “It took all my change. It’s not easy,” she said.
” [Martine Milton et Joëlle Laparé] created a big safety net around me. I felt really supported,” said the lady. “I wouldn’t be where I am now. I would still live in fear a lot,” she continued.
13 suspected femicides
Since the beginning of the year, Quebec has recorded 13 presumed feminicides, “that’s more than one [femme] per month”, explained Pierre Brochet.
According to the ADPQ, approximately 25,000 police interventions are carried out for cases of domestic violence each year in the province. In Laval alone, no less than 1,900 calls are made to the police department to report domestic violence, mentioned Pierre Brochet.
“You have to know that there are resources that are there. Don’t be afraid to speak up and denounce. Go see your police department,” said Marc Brisson.
The ADPQ also noted the deployment of social workers in patrol cars and the anti-reconciliation bracelets introduced by Quebec as measures recently established in police institutions. “I think we are in the right direction. […]. We must continue to raise awareness and make victims feel confident to file a complaint,” said Pierre Brochet.
On Wednesday, the ADPQ also unveiled a first video clip, among a dozen that will be published on social networks, which aims in particular to raise awareness and publicize police units specializing in domestic violence.