Help stop attacks on children

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By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
DEPUTY Commissioner of Police (DCP) operations Donald Yamasombi says all who committed crimes against minors must be prosecuted but reminded parents to be responsible for the security and safety of their children.
“Prosecute, we must. Families of victims must not accept compensation to settle such crimes committed against their children,” he told The National yesterday in response to reports of child sex predators who raped two 13-year-old girls in Mendi and East New Britain.
“I wish to issue a strict warning that parents and relatives must not settle criminal cases by accepting compensation because it is a serious offence under the Criminal Code Act.
“Such crimes must be properly dealt with in the Court of Law to deter such attacks on children.”
DCP Yamasombi also lamented that “it is very unfortunate that many crimes against minors were committed by people known to the family or the child”.
“Parents and guardians must be mindful of their children’s safety and security.
“The must take responsibility in their movements and who they mix with outside the home.
“Most of the perpetrators were also associated with family members or were friends or neighbours,” DCP Yamasombi said, adding that police would investigate and prosecute all suspected offenders.
He urged all parents and guardians of child abuse victims to lodge police reports at their nearest police stations so that the perpetrators faced the due process of the law.