Since the inception of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) in May last year there has been 2,595 reports for the period May 2015 to July 17, 2016 for a range of crimes committed against children. Out of all the reports sexual penetration has been the most prevalent reported serious crime for that period, with a total of 603 cases amounting 30 per cent of the cases.
These statistics were revealed by Superintendent Odette Lewis of the Child Protection Unit who was speaking at the weekly police press briefing at Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. But the unit has been faced with difficulty nabbing perpetrators.
Lewis said there were challenges regarding the compilation of evidence as oftentimes the perpetrators were known to the victim which included a relative or family friend. Hence, obtaining witness statements from victims or even the families could be difficult, she said.
The unit also found that males accounted for 22 per cent of the victims while females represented 78 per cent. Lewis said there were 242 reported cases of sexual touching with amounted to 10.5 per cent.
Statistics showed there were 27 cases of incest and 35 cases of sexual assault which were reported to the unit. Child abuse tallied 202 cases, abandonment and neglect 60 and missing children 48.
However, Lewis said of all those children reported missing since the unit was established all have been returned. Regarding teenaged pregnancy there were 68 reported cases thus far, representing six per cent of the cases.
Offences
The remaining offences that complete the overall reports made to the unit for the period May 2015 to present include:
• Wasteful employment;
• Attempted suicide;
• Kidnapping;
• False Imprisonment;
• Child found wandering;
• Uncontrollable behaviour;
• Psychological abuse;
• Exposed to narcotics;
• Inciting and facilitating child pornography.
Report crimes
Lewis also appealed to parents to be extra vigilant when leaving children in the company or care of adults. She said: “During the July-August school vacation period, many of our children are left unsupervised or with minimum supervision due to the need for both parents to be breadwinners.
"Notwithstanding challenges, parents and guardians are required to make decisions that put welfare of their children first." She said it was also important not to leave children in the care of people or organisations whose backgrounds were unknown.
"Ensure at all times children are left in the care of responsible adults and that emergency numbers are easily accessible.
"Also we advise that you make use of the following numbers to report crimes against a child," Lewis said. She said an abused child often showed signs, ranging from loss of appetite to being afraid of a particular relative.
Also present at the briefing were ASP Suzette Woods-James of the unit and ASP Michael Pierre, public information officer of the Police Service.