Malawi: Mangochi Police Station has recorded a reduction in the criminal activities among minors in the district. The statistics were drawn in the first quarter of the year 2024. The statistics compared the numbers of criminal offenses committed by youngsters in the first quarter of 2023.
The Police force is delighted to announce that they have recorded a reduction in the numbers as compared to the previous year. Strictly going by numbers, the authorities have recorded a difference of 20 cases.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Mangochi Police Station, Amina Daudi shared a detailed summary of the analysis. She was delighted to see the positive difference in the numbers and appreciated the stakeholders for their success.
She said that 30 minors were found in conflict with the law from January to April 2024. Meanwhile 50 minors were arrested within the same period in 2023. She shared the nature of the crimes that were committed by the minors in the community.
According to her, most of the criminal offences that the minors were in conflict with include house breaking and theft. The Police spokesperson noted that it was unfortunate and counterproductive to the development of the district.
“Statistics have shown that there is a decline in number of minors in conflict with the law in the first quarter of this year as compared to last year. All 30 minors are males unlike last year when out of 50 minors; 3 were females,” Daudi said.
She attributed the decline to various interventions that the police force implemented since January 2024. These interventions include such as community awareness whereby parents were sensitized on how to monitor and control children so that they don’t get in conflict with the law.
“We do diversions. This is where a child who commits a minor offence is counselled and sent back home. As a station, we are committed to end offences involving minors and ask for collaboration from stakeholders,” she said.
Project Officer for Youth Net and Counselling, Grant Dula delivered a brief address on the issue. He observed that collaboration plays a crucial role in minimizing cases of children found in conflict with the law in the district.
He commended Mangochi Police for implementing various interventions in collaboration with stakeholders to deal with crime in the district.
“There is good coordination between the police and other stakeholders in the district. When you work as a team it is likely for you to achieve your goals,” Dula said.
He then pleaded with duty bearers in the district to intensify social behaviour change and psychosocial counselling programmes to minors as well as sensitization meetings with parents, citing lack of parental care as one of the factors that drive children into crime.