In this month of June 2019, Camille
(the first name has been changed)
decides to open up to her mother.
“Grandpa, he's unhealthy,” says the 12-year-old girl.
And to tell several touches of which she would have been the victim in the family intimacy: a caress on the legs under the table during a meal or that day when the sexagenarian touched her chest and tried to kiss her while she was alone at home.
One evening, in the bedroom where she sleeps, Camille feels the grandfather's hand resting on her shoulder.
So many facts that constitute a sexual assault.
Immediately, the gendarmerie was notified and it was the group of attacks on persons (GAP) of the Beauvais company which was in charge of the investigation.
"Often in this kind of business, it is the word of one against that of the other," notes Warrant Officer Tony Cauwet, one of the four soldiers who make up the unit that will question "everyone. family circle ”.
The pugnacity of the investigators is paying off since one of the people heard will explain having experienced the same thing, almost 20 years ago.
A precious testimony that will allow the case to lead to a trial in the first half of 2021.
Processing times cut in half
Created under the leadership of Commander Jérôme Le Caro, the GAP has been dealing with cases of domestic violence since May 2019, mostly sexual violence against minors, committed in the Beauvais company sector.
With this specially dedicated group, the officer hoped to "improve the care of minor victims" by "reducing the processing times for these cases" sometimes considered too long.
These deadlines have therefore been reduced from 110 days in 2017 to 52 in 2020, proof of the efficiency of the unit.
"It is a question of rationalizing the processing of procedures by relying on time management and entrusting these investigations to soldiers who have skills and appetites for these issues," said Commander Le Caro.
Since its creation, the GAP has led 227 investigations, including 66 criminals, and conducted 166 hearings of child victims (Amiv).
Still unique in the Oise, the group could soon be generalized within other gendarmerie companies in the department.
Confidence of the victim
At the Froissy brigade, where the GAP is based, it is in a narrow room made up of four offices with walls decorated with children's drawings that we find Warrant Officer Tony Cauwet.
As often, the gendarme swapped the uniform for jeans and sneakers.
"It can help to free the word of some minors who may be impressed by the outfit", he slips.
Because in the business he deals with his colleagues, it is very often in the words of the victims that lies the key.
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Everything generally begins with a first contact.
"The idea is to take the victim into account as quickly as possible, so that she understands that she is not alone", insists the adjutant, who does not hesitate to move directly.
As in the case of a college girl who exchanged text messages with a man in his forties.
About a hundred messages, some of which are of a sexual nature.
“Without really talking about the case, we go there to introduce ourselves, to talk about everything and nothing.
The more confident the victim is, the more she will have to sort things out during her hearing, ”emphasizes Tony Cauwet.
"A purely human job"
Once this first contact has been established, it is at the Beauvais hospital within the reception of child victims (Amiv) that this hearing - filmed - is conducted by one of the GAP investigators.
Far from the premises of a gendarmerie, "in a neutral place", says Commander Le Caro, the victim is heard only once.
"The objective is to facilitate their care and not to make them repeat themselves on the facts they have lived", comments Caroline Tharot, prosecutor of the republic of Beauvais.
"And the advantage of these hearings is that the investigators are specially trained, which improves the quality of the procedures", welcomes Cyril Boile, president of France Victimes 60, an association which will be responsible for the socio-judicial monitoring of minors. .
In front of the child, the gendarme complies with the NICHD protocol to conduct the interview.
Thus, his questions must not contain any part of the answer.
"Everything must come from the word of the victim", warns Warrant Officer Cauwet, who assures him, from the beginning to the end of the procedure, "it is a purely human job".
