Emergency cellphones not enough to save domestic violence victims, critics say

A new provincial emergency cellphone could help police reach victims of domestic violence in the nick of time when their life is on the line — but critics say there are too few available to Manitoba victims.

This week, the province announced it was adding five phones to a long-existing program called Cellphone Emergency Limited Link-up, or CELL.

Right now, 55 cell phones are provided to those deemed at high risk of being victims of domestic violence — despite the fact there are thousands of cases of spousal violence reported to police each year. 

An example, critics say, of an already flawed protection program.

"I'm wondering who those five women are going to be that will be available for those," said Sheila Hillier, executive director of the Interlake Women's Resource Centre. "It's frustrating. It's very frustrating."

The five new phones will be more secure and equipped with GPS tracking devices; they'll also allow victims to simply press a button instead of dialling 911.

The announcement came following the deaths of two Manitoba women.

On Oct. 8th, Selena Rose Keeper, 20, was found badly beaten outside a North End home. She died later in hospital. Her estranged partner is now charged in her homicide.

On Oct. 30th, Camille Runke was gunned down at her St. Boniface workplace.

Her estranged husband later shot himself as he was fleeing officers, according to police.

Both women had applied for various protection orders in recent months citing physical and emotional violence. Keeper's application was denied. Runke's was accepted. 

• Protection orders 'don't stop bullets,' Manitoba shelter head says​
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But friends say neither women had access to the emergency cell phones offered through CELL. 

"I cannot imagine why Camille wouldn't have had one. She obviously needed something like this," said  Ramona Kalid, Runke's neighbour. "She knew she was being targetted."

But Runke wasn't the only one.

Last year, just 18 women accessed the phones; and the year before, just four of them were handed out.

This despite the fact that each year, police investigate thousands of cases of spousal violence in Manitoba, among the highest rates in the country.

Service providers tell CBC part of the reason is there are too many hurdles to accessing them.

Victims have to convince authorities they're at risk. They have to provide a protection plan. They must file a complaint with police, and they must sign a contract agreeing to strict conditions.

"Women are too intimidated by the program," Hillier said. 

The province, however, plans to increase awareness of the CELL program, continue training service providers about the CELL benefits and make certain those who use the program have the supports they need to carry through with it.

The province also announced a total of $1.5 million to upgrade emergency shelters, including those in Selkirk, Winkler and Steinbach.