Quebec police need more domestic violence training, advocate says

Police in Quebec need better training about handling cases of domestic violence, a group representing more than 40 women's shelters in the province says.

The call comes afterDaphnHuard-Boudreault, 18, was killed earlier this week when she returned to the apartment she had shared with her ex-boyfriend.

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Her ex-boyfriend,AnthonyPratte-Lops, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Sources toldRadio-Canada that after going to the local police station, Huard-Boudreaultdecided not to file an official report. Police insisted officers escort her back to the apartment she once shared with Pratte-Lops, to collect her things.

Thefemale police officer who was followingHuard-Boudreault in a separate carfirst went to the wrong address and was minutes behind her.

Huard-Boudreaultdid not wait for police before entering the apartment, where she was attacked.

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The case highlights the need for police torevisittheir procedures when dealing with conjugal violence, saidSylvie Langlais, president ofLeRegroupementdesmaisonspour femmesvictimesde violenceconjugale.

She wants all police forces in the province to follow the same protocol in such situations: allowthe victim to meet with counsellors trained to deal with domestic violence.

"Police can't understand all the subtleties,"Langlaissaid. She added that there should be two police officers present when someone returns to collect their possessions after leaving a domestic violence situation.

Quebec'sindependent investigations bureau is investigating how the RichelieuSaint-Laurent intermunicipal police force handled Huard-Boudreault'scase.

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Langlais said police currently only receive six hours of training in the academy about how to deal with domestic violence.

"For years we've been asking the Ministry of Public Security for their training to be brought up to date, for there to be ongoing training," she said.

There were 11 homicides in Quebec, all women,following instances of domestic violence in 2014, according to the most recent figures available from the Ministry of Public Security. There were also 30 attempted murders that year.