Police Commissioner Addresses Challenges in Addressing Gender-Based Violence Cases

Also speaking out on the cases of gender based violence was the Police Commissioner, Chester Williams.  According to the commissioner, the Police Department has its work cut out for them, as they do need to find ways to address these cases whilst having the confidence of the victims.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “No one should suffer as a result of gender based violence. We’re in the 21st century for Christ sake but it is the reality. We still do have people who are suffering and as a department we are doing our best to see how we can work with the different agencies to stem this type of violence.  We want to create an atmosphere where persons who are victims of domestic violence or domestic based violence that they feel free coming forward and telling their story. People suffering in silence as a result of gender based violence should be a thing of the past not of the present society we’re currently living in. But I do agree that there is much more that needs to be done by all of su the stakeholders. That also includes the media to sensitize the public in terms of the different services that are out there to assist those persons who may be suffering and to make them understand that they can make use of these services and by so doing they can help to rid themselves of the violence that is being perpetrated against them by their partner.” 

Renee Trujillo, News Director, Love News: Is it safe to say that the police or the DVU units see an increase in these cases incidentally in the month of December ? 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Yes that is true. Normally December, September every time of celebrations we’d see an increase in the volume of cases that are received at DVU.”

Renee Trujillo, News Director, Love News: Is that alcohol related ?

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Some of them is alcohol related, some of them is financially related. There are different reasons.”

Additionally, the Police Department not only has to deal with the domestic cases of the public, the men and women of the department are not exempted from these matters.

Renee Trujillo, News Director, Love News: When you talk about bringing awareness on gender based violence is that something that you have taken on within the police department ? Because while yes police officers are law enforcement agents they’re also humans and they go through their very own domestic issues as well. So how do you then motivate and encourage them to come forward or to take action against the perpetrators of gender based violence ?

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Yes we understand that police are human beings and police officers do go through their own issues but at the end of the day we have sworn to uphold the law and it is expected that we will do our best in so doing and when we do have police officers who are victims of gender based violence we try our best to see how we could assist them. Now if they are the perpetrator the fact that you are a police officer and may have issues in terms of dealing with the public should not be a reason or a justification for you to be abusive to your partner or your children.”

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence opened on November 25, and extends to December 10, Human Rights Day