Maine-et-Loire: in conjunction with the gendarmerie, Vanessa Le Derff intervenes with victims of domestic violence

By Alexandre Dasilva
Published on 30 Dec 20 at 12:28

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Agent employed by the department of Maine-et-Loire, Vanessa Le Derff East assigned to the gendarmerie. It intervenes in particular following an intervention for domestic or intra-family violence. Meeting in this month of December 2020.

News:

What is your main mission? : I arrived thirteen years ago for a job creation. At the time, the colonel of the gendarmerie wanted to work with a person to meet the demands of the poor gendarmes faced with social problems, particularly for domestic and intra-family violence. At that time, a few similar positions already existed in other departments.

After their stay at home, I take the intervention reports and I am available to families.
Since the creation of the position, it is a real work in connection with them. As soon as they intervene, the gendarmes inform the families of the possibility that I have to contact them afterwards. This ensures that people are not surprised by my call.

A position like yours across the department is huge …

VLD: Ah yes, that’s for sure. We would like to see another job created, that’s for sure.

The idea is to offer my help. I provide short and punctual support in connection with families. After meeting them, I mainly make the link between the victims and the various services. I have to meet them once, twice or three times, but my role is to direct them to other service professionals: social, legal, housing, hospital services, childcare, etc.

Are we seeing an increase in the number of victims and complaints of domestic violence?

VLD: Since the Grenelle des violences of 2019, we have certainly observed a fairly significant increase. Afterwards, is it linked to more information and awareness on the subject and that some victims are coming forward more? It is still quite difficult to determine.

In any case, today it concerns all social categories and all ages. With a lot of young people all the same. When I started, people between 25 and 49 were a little more represented.

And with confinement?

VLD: In Maine-et-Loire, we did not necessarily see a sharp increase in domestic and intra-family violence during the first confinement.

What are you doing to support women victims of violence?
My job remains to support them in what they encounter as difficulties, not beyond. And you know, the more you tell a woman that she has to leave her husband, the harder it will be for her.

You have to tell her that we are there, reassure her about her skills, about her self-esteem. After situations of violence, we are no longer the same people. It is more about reassuring, informing and advising.

What about violence against men?

VLD: Yes, it has happened before. But there are very few who talk about it. It is still very hard for them to go and file a complaint and talk about it around them. They are afraid of being judged.

What advice should be given to a woman victim of domestic violence?

VLD: When I start an interview with a victim, I listen to her first and foremost and try to see where she is. I tell her that I am present to accompany her in what she projects in the future.
Above all, she must also call the police if she feels in danger. She must know that she is not alone and that she tells herself that it is not her fault that she has come to this. We must really succeed in relieving the guilt of the victims.

And those close to these people also have a role to play in this fight against violence. But what to do ?

VLD: Especially not to judge these people. For example, they should not be judged if they decide not to file a complaint and to return home with their partner. And we must always keep the link even if it is difficult to accept the situation.

Practical: Vanessa Le Derff can be contacted directly on 06 14 05 09 01.

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