The Kennebecasis Regional Police Force has unveiled a new "soft" interview room designed to help put victims of crime at ease. (Photo: Brad Perry)
Wayne Gallant knows a police station is not always the most welcoming place for people, especially for victims of crime.
The chief of the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force hopes their new “soft” interview room will change that.
It looks similar to a small living room with comfy furniture and toys for children. It also has a camera to record the interview.
“The idea is, with this sort of setup, you get better investigative outcomes from a policing perspective,” said Gallant during Tuesday’s unveiling.
“People are more comfortable in sharing their stories, they’re more comfortable in talking to the police because it is a more comfortable setting.”
The soft interview room is the brainchild of KV Domestic Violence Outreach (KVDVO).
The new room is designed to give victims of crime a place to go that’s much more welcoming. Before now, victims would have to sit in one of these interview rooms. pic.twitter.com/eJu7v84Vvz
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) November 19, 2019
Ann Hogan, treasurer of the KVDVO board of directors, said they approached Gallant about a year ago about creating a welcoming space at the police station.
“They agreed that it was a good idea to have a room where people could come and give a statement, where they may be victims or witnesses, and be more comfortable and be less stressed,” said Hogan.
After a few stops and starts, Hogan said they chose a room located off the main lobby, which means victims will not have to go through other areas of the police station.
Gallant said the new dual-purpose space will also be available for use by his staff.
“It presents an opportunity for us to have a quiet room within our building for our officers or people to go if they’ve experienced a particularly stressful event … to sort of wind down after something like that,” said Gallant.
The room was primarily funded through donations and sponsorships from local businesses, including Domus Flooring and Stairs, Pinnacle Painting, Kent, Benjamin Moore, and KV Girl Guides.
Gallant estimated the total project costs were between $10,000 and $20,000. He said the only expense for the force was repurposing another room to accommodate what was in the interview room previously.
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