CISOCA unit gets facelift

The Westmoreland Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) got a boost recently with the refurbishing of the facility by LIME Jamaica.

"They like to talk to us" was the common sentiment expressed by Elmyra Ellison, head of the Westmoreland (CISOCA) unit. It was a welcoming remark in a culture where incidents of sexual and child abuse tend to go unreported.

A team of five female officers led by Ellison are responsible for managing reports and investigation of cases involving sexual offences like rape and child abuse in the western parish. They have taken on the roles of counsellors and confidantes to their 'customers', including mothers, fathers and youngsters who seek their assistance on a daily basis.

Before the involvement of the telecoms company, the unit was an open room with a few desks and chairs, which was not conducive to the sensitive function of the unit.

"There are times when persons would come to the centre to make a report and other persons would come into the area and see exactly who the victims are. There are also times when we have to go somewhere else to get privacy as two reports could not be taken at the same time," recalls Ellison.

In June, the company organised for the retrofitting of the office with drywall cubicles and a fresh coat of paint, and provided new office desks that have transformed the overall appearance and appeal of the room which is provided to victims at the small office located at the Savanna-la-Mar Police Station.

Since the partitions were installed just over a month ago, the officers relate that victims feel more comfortable expressing themselves and feel more confident; a trend they hope will help boost the number of reports they received.

"This is something that we were happy to help with," notes public relations officer at LIME, Danielle Savory. "We have visited many parishes across the island doing promotional activities and wherever we go, we try to do something for the communities that do business with us. Through the LIME Foundation, we usually try to give back to the education of the youth of the area, however, we felt this project will help to address a significant need," she added.