SQ, police forces across Quebec raising awareness about intimate partner violence with annual campaign

Quebec provincial police, along with numerous community partners and other police departments like Montreal’s SPVM, are raising awareness about intimate partner violence.

This is part of the 12 days of action to fight violence against women, leading up to the Dec. 6 anniversary of the 1989 Polytechnique mass shooting when 14 women were killed simply because they were women.

“Any information in domestic violence that we can give to people for them to know better,” said Caroline Girard, Lieutenant coordinator of the team dedicated to the fight against violence between intimate partners at the SQ.

The Sûreté du Québec says intimate partner violence can be both physical and psychological.

For the second year, they are sensitizing citizens at 200 strategic locations throughout Quebec, on roads, in shopping malls and metro stations, and kiosks at local businesses.

“Please come forward. We’re there to receive you, to listen to you, and we’re there for you, anywhere, anytime,” said Girard.

Commander Anouk St-Onge, the head of the Domestic Violence Section with SPVM, added, “Go get help. There is help. You know, you’re seeing it today. It could be officers, it could be police officers. And if the police officer is not your option, there is some help. SOS violence conjugale, you know, the regroupement of women shelter, you know, there is some help. You have to go get help.”

They’re partnering with several local women’s groups to help spread their message including SOS Violence Conjugale, the Regroupment of houses for women victims of domestic violence, the Federation of women’s shelters, the Alliance of 2nd stage shelters, the the Quebec National Police Academy, the Rebuild service as well as the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP).

“Resources are present. Police are present. Shelters are present. We at SOS are present. We are the gateway to services. You know, if you call SOS at 1-800-363-9010, you can gain access to services throughout Quebec, be it shelter services if you need to talk to somebody,” said Claudine Thibaudeau, communications manager with SOS violence conjugale.

“You don’t have to be sure that you’re a victim of violence before calling services like SOS Violence Conjugale. If it’s not violence, we’ll figure it out. If it’s violence, we’ll figure it out.”

The SQ says that there were about 10,000 cases of intimate partner violence in 2022 in the province in regions they serve and Montreal police say about 8,200 cases were reported to them last year.

According to statistics from the Quebec Ministry of Public Security, in 2021, it was mainly men who are at the source of intimate partner violence. 95.4 per cent of alleged sexual offenders in 2021 were men.

The SQ says that last year’s campaign resulted in successful operations, with citizens meeting and being able to discuss intimate partner violence with police officers and stakeholders.

“Victims and their loved ones can count on the commitment of our members to welcome them, support them, and come to their aid,” said Girard. “Today’s concerted activities with organizations working directly with victims reflect the complementarity of expertise and services available.”

-With files from Gareth Madoc-Jones, CityNews