Gathering evidence of abuse

Keep a diary to describe the following:

• exactly what happened: what your partner or ex-partner said or did
• the date and place
• any witnesses
• any other evidence you can think of.

You can do this online, for example with the secure Mémo de Vie platform (only available in French). It allows you to save testimonials, life stories, official documents, photos, videos and recordings.

Evidence that comes straight from them with admissions of abuse, apologies for the abuse, insults, threats, attempts to control or harassing behaviour is very useful. For example:

• emails
• texts (screenshots showing the sender’s number)
• voice messages
• messages on messaging apps (e.g. Messenger, WhatsApp, Signal).

Bruises, wounds or scars, for example.

• Do not wash yourself.
• As soon as you can, go to a doctor or hospital. A health care professional will examine you and can gather evidence of the assault.
• The medical examination could confirm the perpetrator of the abuse using their DNA.

If you are an adult (over 18 years of age), medical staff must respect medical confidentiality and cannot report the abuse without your consent.

If possible and if it is safe for you to do so, discreetly record or film the abuse taking place. For example, you can start a voice recording using your phone.

Be very careful when doing this. Your safety is always the top priority. Only do this if you feel safe to do so.

If possible, store items or clothing with signs of abuse in a safe place, or take a photo of them.

Be very careful when doing this. Your safety is always the top priority. Only do this if you feel safe to do so.

Ask people close to you to provide a written testimonial specifying the following:

• how they met you
• how long they’ve known you
• their relationship with you and the perpetrator
• what they have witnessed
• when they witnessed it
• things you have told them in confidence about the abuse.

Each witness statement must be dated, signed and accompanied by a photocopy of the witness’s identity card. You can use this template for your witness statements. You can print it or use it as a template for a witness statement on a separate sheet of paper.

The healthcare professionals you consult can write documents that will serve as evidence. For example:

• you can consult a doctor and ask them for a medical certificate recording the abuse that took place
• if the emergency services have helped you, ask them to provide you with a report
• if you had to go to a hospital, request a report: this can be a “Certificat Initial Descriptif (CID)” or a “Compte Rendu des Urgences (CRU)”.

Ask professionals who know you and your children to give evidence by providing a statement or “attestation”.

This could be a social worker, a lawyer, a school teacher, or an organisation offering free services known as an "association" that has helped you, etc.

Each witness statement must be dated, signed and accompanied by a photocopy of the witness’s identity card.

You can use this template for your witness statements. You can print it or use it as a template for a witness statement on a separate sheet of paper.

If your partner or ex-partner controls or threatens your access to money and documents, keep evidence:

• account statements
• loan agreements in your name that are used by your partner
• written communications concerning your income or expenses
• written communications in which they prevent you from working, education, or attending French classes
• written communications in which you ask to recover your documents, such as your identity papers
• any evidence that they deprive you of resources and prevent you from obtaining new resources.

Keep any evidence of abusive or dominating behaviour:

• past court judgements
• a witness statement or “attestation de témoin” from an ex-partner who has also experienced abuse from them.

Each witness statement must be dated, signed and accompanied by a photocopy of the witness’s identity card. You can use this template for your witness statements. You can print it or use it as a template for a witness statement on a separate sheet of paper.

Be very careful when doing this. Your safety is always the top priority. Only do this if you are sure that the witnesses will not tell your partner or ex-partner.

If you don't feel ready to file a complaint, you can simply report the abuse by submitting a log or “main courante” to any police station, i.e. a “commissariat de police” or “brigade de gendarmerie”.

This log is an official document that merely records the facts you report. It doesn't usually trigger an investigation.

Note: in the case of domestic abuse, the police have an obligation to transmit the log or “main courante” to the public prosecutor or “procureur de la République”. They may decide to carry out an investigation and possibly prosecute the perpetrator if the violence is considered to be very serious.