what is the role of social workers in police stations?

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His office is located on the ground floor of the Quimper police station (Finistère). Right in front of reception and next to the offices for filing complaints. ELisabeth Gramoullé is thus at the heart of the police station, literally and figuratively.

A social worker since February 2024, she brings real added value to her police colleagues in Quimper but also in Concarneau where she also intervenes.

“His work really complements ours. She intervenes on the entire social side. Until then, we could at best give victims contact details of associations. But that's all. »

Filing a complaint or not

From now on, the police can offer those interviewed to meet Élisabeth Gramoullé. “50% of cases concern family violence; 50% of cases of people in precariousness. It may be elderly victims of burglary or scams, neighborhood conflicts, some marginalized people…” lists the social worker who is employed by the Departmental Council.

In the case of domestic violenceshe receives women who have filed a complaint, or not.

“Sometimes they don’t even realize they are victims. I use the violenceometer a lot to make them aware of it. Because the process may have been insidiously taking place for years. Often when they understand, they collapse. »

Take the time

Listening is essential, essential. “It is probably easier to talk to a social worker than to the police. Victims need to be reassured and to understand the legal procedure if they file complaints. They can stay an hour or two in the office. »

Élisabeth Gramoullé also deploys her “tool box formed over the course of my thirty-five years of experience, particularly in a departmental social action center.” In other words, all the useful contacts: emergency accommodation, psychological support, social assistance, legal assistance, etc.

The professional does tailor-made: she can accompany a victim to the hospital or to a lawyer… She can meet users in a café, on the banks of the Odet or in a supermarket. “When a woman is followed by her attacker, an encounter in a supermarket goes unnoticed,” she comments.

Élisabeth Gramoullé, however, does not carry out long-term follow-up; she passes the baton to other colleagues such as the CDAS social workers.

Finistère has five other social workers in police stations and gendarmes.

Elisabeth Gramoullé is at the Quimper police station on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and at that of Concarneau on Tuesday and Thursday. 06 38 11 03 70.

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