#BTColumn – Expanding, publicising the Family Conflict Unit

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Tyrell Giles 

The Family Conflict Intervention Unit of the Barbados Police Service had its genesis on June 1st 2013.  Generally, this unit is responsible for responding to reported instances of domestic violence.

However, the unit is not as well known among the general population of Barbados as it should be.

According to The Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) (Amendment) Act, 2016 -2, “domestic violence” refers to the willful infliction or threat of infliction of harm by one person in a domestic relationship upon another person in that relationship and includes child abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse.”

Emotional abuse, however, refers to an action by a person which intends to cause pain or injury psychologically to a victim. This can comprise of threatening words, restricting a victim access to their child, parent or guardian and harassment.

Finally, harassment speaks to terrifying of a victim by a perpetrator through continuous verbal abuse, threats of physical violence, malicious damage to the victim’s property, persistently contacting the victim via e-mail, facsimile, post, telephone, text messaging or any other means.

After the most recent sitting of youth parliament where the unit was mentioned, many young people had various questions about the unit because they had never heard of it before. A few social work and psychology students
who had the opportunity to do practical assessment there would be aware.

The concern among persons is that they feel as though the usual police station has so much activity, they don’t
feel comfortable discussing sensitive domestic issues in that space.

This unit is unique in that it doesn’t feel as though you’re in a police station when you walk in but it feels as though you’re going to see your therapist.

It even has a playroom filled with toys where you can leave your children while you discuss sensitive issues related to your domestic violence case.

Indeed, with every great initiative there is room for improvement.  The unit has island-wide jurisdiction and
is doing an excellent job with the only four officers assigned there.

However, in these uncertain times with COVID-19 and the statistics showing that reported domestic violence cases are on the rise, there is great need for expansion of the unit.  Expansion of the team will facilitate tackling multiple cases at once or even tackling a physical case while others work
on mediations in office with clients.

This expansion will also compensate for when officers fall ill or otherwise cannot make it in office.  Currently, the Family Conflict Intervention Unit is also tasked with providing physical support to Barbados’ lone battered
women shelter.

This includes transportation, victim/perpetrator mediation and other security operations.  Indeed, expansion will better serve youth who don’t feel comfortable in a regular police station, battered females, the victims at the shelter and anyone else being abused.

Expansion however should come with training.  We can understand and appreciate that this kind of work requires persons with an ethical background and understand the importance of confidentiality, all while being personable.

Therefore, whichever officers are being assigned to this unit should have the relevant training in a social work-related background as this does entail counselling, mentoring and strategic intervention. On the other hand, I understand and appreciate as well that we must decide what we want police officers to be.

Do we want them to be police, teachers, parents and mentors to the public too? The answer is no.  If the training of officers is too much to ask for and the government prefers officers to police only, there are many social workers, psychologists and community workers alike who can work alongside the unit as contracted civilians.

Currently, there is only one qualified psychologist at the said shelter for battered women who I’m certain would be grateful for the expansion and extra assistants from qualified persons like herself.

To conclude, I wish to emphasize my continued gratitude for the services that this unit provides as this service is one of a kind.  Certainly, expansion will double our success in the fight against domestic violence as a nation.

I also strongly encourage persons who are experiencing any form of domestic abuse as outlined above to contact this particular unit.

Tyrell Giles is a post-graduate E-governance student.