THE uMbilo Police have recently established a victim-friendly room at their police station to provide a safe space for victims and whistle-blowers of gender-based violence, child abuse and any other crime that may be traumatic to the victims and require emotional support.
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On November 30, the uMbilo Police Station, in partnership with the Durban South Baptist Church, will lend the psychological services of Addley Naidoo who will help run the victim-friendly room. Speaking at the launch, Colonel Richard Ximba, station commander of uMbilo Police Station, said, “With this room, we want to reassure the community of their importance to us as a police force. We want to build their trust in us. When it comes to how we handle cases of abuse, our police station is not only a place of safety but also a place where you can seek emotional support.”
The already fully functional room is victim-friendly and equipped with a children’s corner for victims visiting with small children or young victims reporting crime. Victims reporting crime at the station will be interviewed and taken to the private space provided by the victim-friendly room, where their statements will be taken in a non-threatening environment.
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The opening of the victim-friendly room came just in time as the country celebrated 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children where this year’s theme calls for a responsive justice system. The theme for this year is ‘Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence and femicide: leaving no one behind.’
The victim-friendly room, although not a shelter, or equipped to house people, will provide professional emotional support, practical assistance and referrals to professional support services, plus information on victims’ rights.
“We hope this room will provide healing to the community and also encourage victims to report abuse,” said Naidoo.
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