Public Trust Growing in Domestic Violence Intervention Centres

There is growing public trust in the Domestic Violence Intervention Centres that are located on police compounds in eight parishes across the island.

This was stated by National Domestic Violence Intervention Liaison Officer for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Jacqueline Dillon, in an interview with JIS News.

The country currently has 10 centres operating on police compounds in Kingston at 115 Old Hope Road (Matilda’s Corner Police Station) and Constant Spring Police Station; Clarendon, Hayes Police Station; St. Mary, Gayle Police Station; St. Ann, Alexandria Police Station; St. Thomas, Morant Bay and Yallahs Police Stations; Westmoreland, Negril Police Station; St. Elizabeth, Santa Cruz Police Station; and St. Catherine, Portmore Police Station.

These centres are managed by the Central Unit, located at 2 Oxford Road in Kingston.

According to DSP Dillon, these centres serve as a primary avenue for individuals seeking help and reporting cases of abuse.

The centres provide caring interventions, support and safeguards for victims seeking help.

“Most of the figures that we collect come from the domestic violence intervention centres. The others come from the Divisions where no centre is, or the parishes where no centre is,” she said.

She explained that for some Divisions they have recorded declining numbers of reported incidents.

“For the Divisions where there are increasing numbers, it means that more people are trusting us to act on their behalf or respond to their concerns. In Divisions where there are less numbers, it means that the message that we have been sending out to persons about domestic violence and prevention, they are listening to the message,” DSP Dillon said.

She also explained that where there are increases in the numbers in other police Divisions, several factors could be contributing to the figures.

“It could be that persons are just learning that they can actually come to the police. It could be that there are more incidents happening in those parishes, so there are several factors when we look at the numbers,” DSP Dillon said.

The JCF’s Domestic Violence Intervention Unit conducted a month-long Cross-Country Tour in February as part of its ongoing effort to combat domestic violence and raise awareness across communities.