The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) is implementing a groundbreaking strangulation-response protocol across the entire city following an 18-month pilot project that demonstrated significant improvements in domestic violence case investigations.
Quebec's First Comprehensive Response to Strangulation
This pioneering initiative, which represents the first program of its kind in Quebec, originally launched in May 2024 through a partnership between the SPVM and the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). The protocol specifically addresses strangulation, which law enforcement experts recognize as one of the strongest predictors of domestic homicide.
Research supporting the protocol reveals alarming statistics: victims who have been strangled by a partner are seven times more likely to be killed later by the same person. This critical data underscores the life-saving potential of early detection and proper response to strangulation incidents.
Enhanced Detection and Training Methods
Inspired by successful policing models in the United States, the program provides comprehensive training to help officers recognize the often subtle signs of strangulation. Police learn to ask detailed, specific questions when responding to domestic violence calls, addressing a crucial gap in traditional investigation methods.
Insp. Anouk St-Onge, head of the SPVM's Urban Prevention and Security Division, emphasized the importance of specialized training. "It's a myth to think that if you're strangled, you automatically have large marks on your neck. That's not true," St-Onge explained. "That's why we need to educate, raise awareness and train our police officers on other symptoms and signs that could indicate strangulation."
The challenge is substantial - nearly half of strangulation victims show no visible injuries, making specialized detection methods essential. To address this, the SPVM's forensic identification team has begun using advanced light-filter technology that can reveal bruising invisible to the naked eye, significantly improving evidence collection quality.
Measurable Success During Pilot Phase
The 18-month pilot project in Montreal's east end yielded impressive results that justified the city-wide expansion. According to police data:
- Officers handled 348 strangulation cases during the pilot period
- Incident reports explicitly identifying strangulation increased from 67% to 87%
- Reports describing victims' symptoms rose from 51% to 67%
- Referrals of victims to hospital care grew from 36% to 61%
- 95% of victims were women
Maya Ducasse-Hathi, a DPCP prosecutor who worked on developing the protocol, clarified that the improved numbers don't necessarily indicate more strangulation cases. "We're not saying there are more strangulation cases," she noted. "But police officers are detecting them more often when they ask questions about it."
Ducasse-Hathi added that officers are now better equipped to explain the serious health risks to victims and encourage them to seek appropriate medical care, representing a crucial advancement in victim support.
Legal Context and Future Expansion
The timing of this protocol aligns with recent legal developments. Assault by strangulation was specifically added to the Criminal Code in 2019, providing clearer legal framework for prosecuting such cases.
The success of Montreal's program has already generated interest from other police forces across Quebec. Insp. St-Onge confirmed that other jurisdictions have expressed interest in adopting similar approaches based on the demonstrated effectiveness of Montreal's model.
"We're proud of what we've achieved. It's all for the victims of domestic violence," St-Onge stated, emphasizing the human impact behind the statistical improvements.
The city-wide implementation represents a significant step forward in protecting vulnerable individuals and preventing domestic violence escalation throughout Montreal communities.
