“free speech”, a mobile gendarmerie brigade to better protect victims in Doubs

In Doubs, the Besançon mobile territorial brigade (BTM) has been in place for six months. A first assessment of its activities was made on the occasion of its official inauguration on November 5.

In October 2023, the President of the Republic announced the creation in France of 238 new gendarmerie brigades by 2027. Among them, 93 new fixed brigades, 145 new mobile brigades and units specialized in environmental protection or against domestic violence.

This is the case in Besançon where five gendarmes, three men and two women, have since May 2024 as their main activity violence which affects families, whether domestic or against minors.

This new brigade, which has as its base camp, the gendarmerie of the Chemin des Justices in Besançon, intervenes throughout the Doubs department, at the call of the gendarmerie brigades or judicial services. She goes as reinforcement, “au contact” victims whether they are in the gendarmerie, in hospitals, or retirement homes. Since its establishment, 69 procedures have been initiated by the mobile territorial brigade (BTM), including 65 for child victims.

During the official inauguration of this new brigade, the observation is clear. Reports of domestic violence are on the rise in the department “probably, because we detect them better” estimates Rémi Bastille, prefect of Doubs.

There are more and more reports of domestic violence being reported by neighbors. It's rather gratifying to know that there is goodwill from the neighborhood today.

Étienne Manteaux, public prosecutor of Besançon

“People also come to file complaints more quickly” adds Marie Christine Tarrare, attorney general of Besançon.

The mobile territorial brigade of Besançon was born from the reflection in 2022 of the gendarmes, elected officials and prefectural authority. For violence within families, its mission is to hear the perpetrators and bring them to justice, but also to protect the victims.

Speed ​​is one of the conditions for effectiveness in avoiding tragedies.

Colonel Lionel JAMES, Commander of the Doubs Departmental Gendarmerie group

For the public prosecutor, the issue is “that complaints are handled in a reactive manner and prioritize in particular cases which reflect control over a victim”.

Within the gendarmerie premises of Besançon, Étupes, and Pontarlier, the mobile brigade has a room where interviews can be filmed. This is the case for minor victims of sexual violence. A very neutral room, without decoration, without toys unlike the waiting room, for “prevent the child from becoming distracted and remaining focused on the conversation” explains a female police officer trained in American and Canadian protocol NICHD which allows the child to gain confidence and be questioned in better conditions.

These three rooms equipped with cameras are called Mélanie rooms. Mélanie is the first 3-year-old girl, victim of sexual violence, who was interviewed in this type of room set up shortly after 1998, when a law required that hearings of minors be filmed.

Filming these auditions allows the child to speak only once and not have to relive them psychologically. “the scene” during further interrogation.

19 filmed hearings of minors have already been carried out by this specialized mobile brigade. The youngest victims are sometimes barely three years old.

As part of the “200 brigades” plan, other mobile units will emerge in the department to support the work of traditional brigades. An “environment” brigade will soon be operational in Orchamps-Vennes.

Another mobile brigade will be set up in Bethoncourt in the Montbéliard region, without a date specified for the moment.