(Trinidad Express) Over the past five years, there have been 579 breaches of restraining orders and 168 persons, mostly women who sought protection from the courts, were killed.
In response to the alarming statistics, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith on Friday assured that perpetrators will no longer be getting a “free pass.”
He said a Gender-Based Violence Unit within the Police Service will be launched on January 21 which will directly address cases of breaches of restraining orders as the police will be responding immediately to cases of domestic abuse.
In response to questions from the Express, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) provided statistics from the nine police divisions throughout the country as to the number of restraining orders breached over the past five years as follows:
2015 – 95
2016 – 88
2017 – 101
2018 – 121
2019 – 174
Total: 579
The number of persons who obtained restraining orders against abusers and who were murdered are as follows:
2015 – 15
2016 – 35
2017 – 43
2018 – 38
2019 – 37
Total: 168
At your service
Speaking to the Express by phone, Griffith said a zero tolerance approach will be adopted to responding to domestic issues.
He said a victim can call the Emergency Response Unit 999 and the police will respond immediately and thereafter, the Gender-Based Violence Unit will visit victims at their homes to address the complaint.
He said people can also use the SOS button on the TTPS App to get help.
“You don’t have to come to the police station to report the crime. You call us and we come to you, so it is a delivery service I am trying to bring now, where trained and qualified officers will come to your home, speak to you, get the report, deal with the possible perpetrator,” he said.
He said this will be handled with a degree of confidentiality.
Griffith is anticipating that when the unit comes into full operation, the number of domestic related cases being reported will rise.
“It will mean now that people will be more comfortable and confident that something would take place and when that happens it will start to decrease because the felons now will realise that there are now consequences for your action such as going against the restraining order,” he said.
Griffith admitted there have been challenges in the enforcement of restraining orders but he said the specialised unit will focus heavily on dealing with domestic violence cases and breaches of restraining orders.
“If it is we enforce it, it can play a big part towards the reduction of domestic violence,” he said.
The commissioner said the unit will also work to address domestic violence with respect to same-sex relationships as there have been cases of abuse but persons have been ashamed to come forward.
“This is not just about husband and wife, we have also seen many instances where with same-sex relationships there has been a reluctance by these couples to come forward to the police because they do not know if it will be accepted and they would not be taken seriously.
“This is why the gender-based violence unit will deal with all aspects,” he said.
Confidential and sensitive
Griffith said there is also the “third element” of women beating their husbands or male partners.
“The man now because of ego and embarrassment that he perceives, he doesn’t want to come to a station.
“He may fear it would spread around so that is why this unit comes to the home regardless of who is the victim, we will deal with it in a confidential and sensitive manner that will cause persons to have confidence that their report will be dealt with by specialists,” he said.
He noted there has been an increase of breaches of restraining orders for 2019 and assured the police will be working to reduce these numbers.
Griffith said a campaign will be rolled out to the public which will state quite clearly that it is not business as usual where domestic violence is concerned.
The commissioner appealed for the public to provide information to the police.
“This will not only be for the victim to report, but also to members of the public who have information of domestic abuse. Please pass that information to the police, so we can deal with it before it is too late,” he said.
Griffith said he will be meeting with several relevant stakeholders on Monday where the operational procedures of the new unit will be explained.
He said members of the Gender-Based Violence Unit have been specially trained by an international agency which was responsible for reducing domestic violence in New York.
He said officers from this unit will be assigned to each of the nine divisions with an operational centre where there will be a database and compiling of information.
“Everyone is responsible for their neighbour. Gone are the days for you to say that is not your business. Giving such valuable information may save a life. We need everybody on board where this is concerned,” said Griffith.
Three women — Gabriella Dubarry, Jezelle Philip-Fournillier and Polly Ann Chuniesingh — have been killed over the last ten days. In all three cases, suspects have been detained.