A man accused of domestic violence managed to approach his victim despite wearing an anti-reconciliation bracelet. Quebec is investigating the causes of the incident.
Posted at 5:09 p.m.
The incident occurred on September 9 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the Ministry of Public Security said in a press release issued on Saturday.
A man managed to approach his victim without setting off the alarm on his domestic violence anti-reconciliation bracelet.
“Typically, such an approach results in an alert to the surveillance center and is followed by the rapid implementation of protocols designed to ensure the safety of the victim,” the press release said.
Alerted by an emergency call, the police were able to intervene quickly and arrest the perpetrator.
It is still unclear whether the device was defective. An assessment is underway to determine the causes of the incident, the release said.
“Corrective measures were taken quickly to prevent a recurrence of such a situation, particularly with regard to the system and the intervention protocols,” we add, without specifying, however, the nature of these measures.
As for the victim, he will be offered “regular follow-up check-ups” to ensure his safety.
“Despite this unfortunate and isolated event, the Department of Public Safety remains confident in the effectiveness of the Anti-Reconciliation Bracelet and that it provides an additional safety net to protect victims of domestic violence,” the press release emphasizes.
The association of women’s shelters fears that the incident remains “worrying”, especially for victims of domestic violence.
“It is certain that it can create fear, and that is legitimate. At the same time, This is one of the risks of this type of action. We are talking about technology connected to networks. We were aware that it could happen,” reacted their spokeswoman Elisabeth Viens Brouillard.
To date, 178 anti-reconciliation bracelets have been introduced in Quebec. The technology consists of an immobile device worn on the offender’s ankle and connected to an application installed on a cell phone that is handed to the victim.
The use of the anti-reconciliation bracelet, adopted in 2022, was one of the recommendations of an expert commission on the topic of supporting victims of sexual assault and violence.
“We think the bracelet is good. It is a good measure that is necessary but must be implemented as a whole [de mesures] », added Ms. Viens Brouillard, emphasizing the importance of emergency shelters in protecting victims of domestic violence.
Victims of domestic violence with concerns related to this event are asked to call 1-833-905-0001.
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If you are a victim of domestic violence and are looking for help and recovery, contact SOS Violenceconjugale at 1 800 363-9010. Employees are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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