Since its inception in January of this year, the Gender Based Violence Unit (GBVU) of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has recorded 220 arrests and 290 charges. 

The statistics were shared by Police Commissioner, Gary Griffith on Saturday, as he used the data to refute allegations made in a newspaper report, that the TTPS mishandles domestic violence cases.

The CoP pointed out that the GBVU cannot act upon information it has not received.

“I have observed that many individuals surface after the death of a loved one indicating they knew about the domestic violence occurring in the home but failed to report such. These include family members, neighbours, colleagues at work, and friends. I am once again urging the public to help us, to help you. Let us know so we can act,” Griffith said.

The most common GBV charges included:
· 1) Assault by Beating, (Section 4 of the Summary Offences Act Chapter 11:02)

· 2) Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (Section 5(2) of the Summary Offences Act Chapter 11:02)(Section 30 of the Offences Against the Person Act)

· 3) Breach of Protection Order (Section 20 of the Domestic Violence Act Chapter 45:56)

· 4) Malicious Wounding (Section 14 of the Offences Against the Person Act Chapter 11:08) ·

5) Choking (Section 15 of the Offences Against the Persons Act. Chapter 11:08)

· 6) Malicious Damage to Property (Section 45 of the Malicious Damage Act. Chapter 11:06) Officers assigned to the Gender-Based Violence Unit are located in all nine policing Divisions.

The CoP pointed out that the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill of 2020, which was assented to in July 2020, prescribes that a police officer shall respond to every complaint or report alleging domestic violence.