In less than four months, 198 cases of abuse handled by the Family Protection Brigade

Between January 1 and April 17, 2026, the Family Protection Brigade of the Northern Division handled 198 cases of violence and abuse. This figure was reported by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam in response to a parliamentary question from MP Nitish Beejan regarding the operations of this unit. The details of the interventions reveal a concerning social reality.

Domestic violence accounts for the majority of reports, with 132 cases, including 50 physical assaults and 48 instances of verbal abuse. The protection of minors is also under strain, with 49 cases reported, of which 40 involve sexual assaults. Additionally, the brigade intervened in 17 cases of elder abuse. In terms of legal action, 27 offenders have already been sentenced to fines or prison terms. While 150 cases are still under investigation, the Prime Minister assured that these will be finalized within four to five months to be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

QUICK RESPONSE

Regarding the responsiveness of the authorities, Navin Ramgoolam highlighted the prompt intervention of law enforcement: "Generally, the police respond within an average of fifteen minutes after a report is made." The Northern brigade, now merged with the juvenile unit, consists of fourteen police officers stationed between the offices of Piton and Triolet. Despite the transfer of officers since 2023, the head of government stated that these movements are part of regular management aimed at maintaining operational effectiveness across the fourteen police posts covered by the division.