ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Head of the Domestic Violence Intervention Centres (DVIC), Deputy Superintendent Jacqueline Dillon says the facilities have helped to prevent or curtail incidents of violence in the communities in which they have been established.

Dillon, who was speaking at a tour of the DVI centres at 100 Man Police Station in Portmore, St Catherine on Friday, described the centres as ‘blessings in disguise’ as they have made a huge difference in the number of domestic-related crimes being committed among the general population.

“The DVIC is a blessing in disguise, a blessing to the population because we would have had more incidents of murders had it not been for the intervention of the DVI care centres. We have had incidents of cases that are reported that are at the level had we not intervened, we would have had a murder or a serious injury,” she said. “And it’s not limited to the lower strata of society. We have all the way up to the top so the DVIC really came at a time when not only the JCF needed to have that facility, but when Jamaica needed to have that facility where they go for help and feel confident that when they go help will be given.”

Dillon revealed that since their establishment, the DVI care centres have recorded an increase in the number of incidents being reported that have warranted intervention. The DSP said she is particularly pleased at the number of men who have come forward seeking help from the facilities. She expressed that while men are reportedly the main perpetrators of domestic violence, some are also victims and she is happy that those who are being affected have somewhere to turn to for help.

“We had 2,000 reports in 2022, 1,000 the year before and so there is a steady increase in the numbers coming to the DVI care centres but what is also to note is that we have had over 2,000 men reporting domestic violence to the DVI care centres,” she said. “Some of them just need to talk, some of them are at a stage where they are breaking and they need the help. If we’re talking about men being the greatest perpetrators of violence, we must have facilities where men can go and talk and the DVIC centres provide that for them.”

The Domestic Violence Intervention Centres (DVIC) were initiated by the Jamaica Constabulary Force to support victims of domestic violence. Starting in 2021, UNDP, through the European Union-funded Spotlight Initiative, supported the establishment of six additional DVICs, bringing the total number to 10 islandwide.