Cop sounds alarm as domestic violence surges in Trelawny

FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Commander of this parish’s police division, Superintendent Velonique Campbell has sounded the alarm over a worrying surge in domestic violence, warning that the sharp third-quarter increase is a grave problem and will force the constabulary to intensify its response. The Trelawny division recorded 68 of its 94 domestic violence cases for the year during July, August, and September, with August accounting for 34 — the highest monthly tally so far this year. “Of course, this uptick in the third quarter is of major concern to the division, and that is why we are going to improve and increase our initiative targeting this very sensitive issue,” Campbell said Wednesday afternoon at an anti-domestic violence pop-up clinic hosted by the police force’s Trelawny Community Safety and Security Branch. The event was held in historic Water Square, Falmouth, where police and stakeholders converged with placards bearing messages including “Peace, No Violence”, “Talk It Out, Walk It Out”, “Live In, Live Out” and “Respectful Love”. The monthly figures rose sharply as the year progressed. There were eight cases in January, three each in February and March, one in April, seven in May and four in June. Those were followed by 11 in July, 34 in August, and 23 in September. Despite the spike, Campbell said police had resolved 84 of the 94 cases, giving the division an 89 per cent resolution rate. “The remaining 10 cases, of course, we have been working on them assiduously to bring these matters to a closure,” the senior cop assured. Campbell said the push to curb domestic violence will include — alongside police investigations — public education, counselling and community- based prevention, as well as emphasis on getting victims of abuse to seek help. “We must encourage persons experiencing abuse to talk up, talk up, because too often we wait until somebody gets seriously injured, or somebody dies,” Campbell said. She also encouraged people who know of someone being abused to intervene and help that person access support. Meanwhile, head of the Trelawny Fire Department Superintendent Roland Walters said the Jamaica Fire Brigade will continue to support the police in confronting the problem. “We have to walk handin- hand with the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Whatever they are doing, the Jamaica Fire Brigade is on board to support,” Walters said. Describing domestic violence as a reality affecting both women and men, he made a special appeal to males to speak out if they are victims. He also stressed the need for early intervention before tensions boil over. “I am encouraging all of us to speak up,” he said. Falmouth Mayor Councillor C Junior Gager also endorsed the initiative, saying the municipality is committed to promoting peaceful communities. “We will do what we can to make sure that everyone lives like brothers and sisters,” Gager said. “We also want to say a big, big-up to the hard-working policemen and women of Trelawny who have been doing a very, very excellent job,” he added In addition to the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, police and fire departments, the pop-up event brought together representatives from the Peace Management Initiative, Health Services Department, Child Protection and Family Services Agency, Victim Support Department, Child Diversion, National Council on Drug Abuse, and Restorative Justice.