Domestic Violence Unit Renamed to GVRIU

The police department has officially announced that the Domestic Violence Unit has been renamed the Gender-Based Violence Response and Investigative Unit (GVRIU), effective January 1, 2025. According to a memo, this change reflects the department’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in all its forms, including domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, and harassment.

The decision, made after extensive consultations with stakeholders, aligns with the department’s evolving mission to combat violence beyond domestic contexts and ensure inclusivity for individuals of all genders, ages, and communities.

“The new name aligns with our evolving mission to address violence not only within domestic contexts but also in diverse scenarios where individuals face violence based on their gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. Gender-based violence encompasses a wide range of harmful acts, including but not limited to domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, and harassment.”

The memo says that improved data collection and analysis methods will be introduced to better track trends and inform policy development.

The department has instructed all police commanders to update references to the new unit name in internal and external communications. This change also aligns with international frameworks, such as the United Nations’ commitments to combating GBV and promoting equality.