Special Victims Unit

Country	Saint Kitts and Nevis
Year	2012
Type of Measure	Police > Protocols and guidelines
Form of Violence	Domestic violence/Intimate partner violence

Brief Description

A Special Victims Unit (SVU) within the Royal Saint Christopher and Nevis Police Force was created in 2012. Headed by a female officer, and staffed by six officers in total; five of which are female (83%), the SVU works closely with the Ministry of Social Services, and deals with issues including domestic violence and child abuse. Officers are specially trained to identify and investigate allegations that occur within the family. In 2018, the Unit relocated from the main Police Station in Basseterre to operate from its own independent premises Previously domestic violence incidents were reported as ‘battery’ or ‘Abusive Language’, this has since been changed . Since the establishment of the Unit there has been a significant increase in the reporting of cases of rape due to greater awareness.

Source of Information

Saint Kitts and Nevis's submission for National Review for Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, Beijing+25, 2019, p.5 and p.32

For more information: Special Victims Unit Outlines its Function of Protecting the Vulnerable against Domestic Violence and Abuse