Protection Scenario

If you think your partner or ex-partner could become violent, there are a certain number of measures you can plan in advance.

Get ready to leave by taking these measures:

1. Keep a suitcase or bag packed that you can grab quickly and easily. If possible, it should contain:

• A spare set of keys to the house or apartment and a spare for the car.
• Cash, in small bills and coins, to be able to take a taxi or make a phone call.
• Your ID: passport, social insurance card, birth certificate (yours and your children’s), immigration record, citizenship card, Indian Status Card, etc.
• Your driver’s license and registration.
• Your Medicare card and immunization record and the same for your children.
  
• Bank passbooks, cheques, credit cards and documents for your mortgage or bank loans.
• Your lease, ownership deeds, business or partnership contracts, rent or mortgage receipts.
  

2. Make sure that your purse, wallet, ID papers, keys and other emergency items are kept in a spot that is quick and easy to access (and which only you know about) in the event you need to leave the house swiftly.

3. Open a separate bank account in your name and have the statements sent to a different address (to a friend or someone in your family) so that your spouse does not see them.

4. Review and double-check your safe-escape plan regularly.

During an episode of violence, you should think and act quickly to ensure your own and your children’s safety.

Measures that can help keep you safe when a violent episode occurs:

1. Be sure you are able to grab your clothing and the children’s clothing quickly. If your partner asks what you are doing, have an excuse ready: “Just tidying up” or “Getting the kids’ clothes ready for school tomorrow.”
2. Tell people you trust about your home situation. Arrange a code you can use to alert them that you’re in danger and to call the police immediately. You can also pick a code word to use with the children so they can protect themselves during a violent episode.
3. Go around each room in the house and visualize your exit routes in an emergency. Avoid being in rooms without exits (such as the bathroom, the basement, the cold room) when your partner is with you. Also, avoid places where firearms or knives are stored.
   
   Trust your judgement and instinct. If the situation becomes dangerous, try to think in advance of a way to calm the abuser. Always keep in mind that the priority is your own and the children’s safety.
4. If you can, contact the Sûreté du Québec or call 911, which will dispatch the appropriate emergency responders to ensure your safety.
5. Review and adjust your safety plan regularly.

You can file a complaint with a police officer or contact 911, which will dispatch the appropriate emergency responders if:

• You are afraid of your spouse or ex-spouse, concerned that the violence will escalate or believe that your physical safety or that of your children is at risk;
• You or your children have been harmed during an episode of domestic violence;
• You have been sexually abused by your spouse or ex-spouse;
• Your spouse or ex-spouse has threatened to harm you or made death threats;
• You are being harassed by your spouse or ex-spouse;
• Your spouse or ex-spouse commits mischief against your property.

You could go to the nearest hospital to have your injuries checked or be examined with the forensic kit used in cases of sexual assault. The exams you undergo and the doctor’s findings will be kept in the medical records and you may access them if you decide to file a complaint after the fact.

If a Sûreté du Québec officer responds to a domestic violence call at your home, you can ask them to escort you to the hospital if you require medical care or want a medical opinion regarding any injuries.

You can also ask the police to contact Alternative pour Elles and escort you to the shelter to be sure that you have support and a safe place to go after an episode of domestic violence. A counsellor will take the time needed to hear your story and provide support.

Should you have any questions or want to file a report with a Sûreté du Québec police officer after a violent episode, we can support you in that process and give you the information you need.

You can also visit the Sûreté du Québec website here.

Violence can continue even after a couple has separated. According to Quebec’s department of public safety, some 85% of victims of domestic violence are women, and more than 40% of them are ex-spouses. In the past 15 years, authorities have seen an increase in reports of criminal harassment by ex-spouses; these women account for 75% of victims of this crime.

If you are concerned about further episodes of violence after your separation, ensure your access to these documents:

• Documents regarding your divorce and child custody.
• The restraining order (applicable to you and your children) against your former spouse, a peace bond or any other court order.