By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, May 8, Mana: Mangochi Police Station has disclosed that the district has registered a decrease in children found in conflict with the law in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to figures that were registered in similar quarter last year.

Mangochi Police Station Public Relations Officer (PRO), Inspector, Amina Daudi told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that 30 minors were found in conflict with the law from January to April, 2024 year while 50 minors were arrested within the same period in 2023.

According to PRO, most of the criminal offences that the minors were in conflict with include house breaking and theft which she described as 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 station implemented since January, 2024 citing community awareness as parents were sensitized how to monitor and control children so that they should not be in conflict with the law.

“We do diversions. This is where a child who commits a minor offence is consoled and sent back home,” Daudi added.

She expressed the station’s commitment to end cases of minors involved in crime and asked development partners to support the station.

“Collaboration is key in preventing children from conflicting with the law,” the PRO viewed.

Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) Project Officer, Grant Dula said that collaboration play 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," the Officer said.

Dula 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 is one of the factors that drive children into crime.