Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the ‘Police Family Protection Unit’ was set up in September 1994, to attend to cases of domestic violence, child abuse and child beyond control. However, over the years, with an increase in the number of cases of child abuse, another unit, the ‘Brigade Pour La Protection des Mineurs’ was set up in May 2004 to deal particularly with cases of child abuse and juvenile delinquency. Both units were operating under the aegis of the Central Criminal Investigation Department. With the promulgation of the Children’s Act, the Child Sex Offender Register Act and the Children’s Court Act in the year 2020, the Child Protection Act of 1994 and the Juvenile Offenders Act of 1935 have been repealed. Consequently, the role and responsibilities of the ‘Police Family Protection Unit’ and the ‘Brigade Pour La Protection des Mineurs’ were replaced by a new unit under the appellation ‘Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille’ in January 2022, in order to implement the provisions under the foregoing legislations. Moreover, the ‘Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille’ was assigned new responsibilities to include the implementation of the recommendations of the National Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2024 on the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence and to work with other relevant stakeholders, such as, the Ombudsperson for Children’s Office, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, among others.

33 To ensure effective service delivery, ten sub-units of the ‘Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille’ have been set up by the Police in strategic locations throughout the island, including Rodrigues. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (a)(i) of the question, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that since the inception of the ‘Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille’ in January 2022, cases of child abuse are being addressed in a professional manner and there is proper coordination among the various stakeholders. The staff are given adequate local and overseas training to handle such cases and to fine tune their cognitive interviewing and investigative skills to be able to interview and record statements from victims. They have adopted a victim-centred approach to prevent secondary victimisation and stigmatisation. Concerning juvenile delinquency, such cases are dealt in two ways according to section 41 of the Children’s Act of 2020 – (i) The Police or the aggrieved parents may apply to the Mauritius Probation and Aftercare Services for a ‘Parenting Support Intervention’ in order to assist the parents in performing their parental duties with respect to the management of their child’s behaviour. Thereafter, for this purpose, Probation Officers make an assessment of the child’s behaviour. If the outcome of the assessment is favourable, a report is submitted to the Police. (ii) If the outcome of the assessment is unfavourable, the report is submitted to the Protection Division of the Children’s Court for the issue of a ‘Preventive Intervention Order’ by the Magistrate, which may include, among others, placement in an institution in accordance with the Probation of Offenders Act; attending drug or alcohol treatment or mental health counselling plan; participating in group activities, including counselling and complying with such order as the Magistrate may determine. As regards part (a)(ii) of the question, it is envisaged to reinforce the strength of the ‘Brigade pour la Protection de la Famille’ with additional resources to enable this unit to further meet the growing demands for their services. Neighbourhood Officers at Police Stations will be encouraged to act as Family Liaison Officers for profiling and identifying children with deviant behaviours and for referring them to the relevant agencies for follow-up and counselling. During sensitisation campaign, members of the public will be encouraged to

34 tip off the Police of suspected cases of child abuse and child exhibiting anti-social behaviour for remedial actions. With regard to part (b) of the question, in view of the increasing number of complaints being received concerning the follow-up of children beyond control and domestic violence cases, the whole system is being reviewed.

Thank you. Yes, the hon. Fourth Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue! POLICE DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT – NOISE POLLUTION & DISTURBANCES – REPORTED CASES