A Partnership in Protection

Individuals facing a high risk of relationship violence and victims of stalking will be provided with free cellular telephones to obtain 911 emergency services during times of extreme risk.

The pilot program is designed to provide added protection to individuals at risk. It is a partnership between MT&T Mobility, Bryony House and the Department of Justice.

"This is a recognition that we must find innovative and practical ways of dealing with family violence and stalking," said Justice Minister Jim Smith. "This partnership is all about protecting those who need us most; it's about keeping our communities safe."

MT&T Mobility will provide 25 cellular phones in the first phase of the program.

"The Victims First Program is a natural partnership for MT&T Mobility," said Wendy Paquette, president and chief operating officer for MT&T Mobility. "Public safety has always been a priority for MT&T Mobility, and we're extremely proud to be involved with such an important program."

"The cellular telephone is another tool we can offer when doing safety planning with women who are being abused and are in high-risk situations," said Cathy Love, executive director of Bryony House, a Halifax shelter for abused women and their children. "Women can feel more secure knowing that they can immediately contact help no matter where they are."

Bryony House will assess high-risk female victims to determine eligibility and will act as the distributor of the free phones.
Male victims will be assessed by the Dartmouth Regional Victims' Services office. The Victims' Services division of the department will be responsible for biweekly followups with clients.

The pilot program will take place in the Halifax Regional Municipality with the support of Halifax police and RCMP. The cellular phones will allow outgoing calls to 911 and incoming calls from police.

The program is aligned with the (Domestic Violence Emergency Response System (DVERS) program where home alarms are installed for high-risk victims by ADT Security. Victims who have been approved and are actively participating in the DVERS program will be automatically eligible for the cellular phone pilot program.

Similar programs operate in Manitoba and British Columbia. Should the Nova Scotia pilot program prove successful, it is hoped it will be expanded to all areas of the province accessible by cellular telephones in the coming months.