Police counsels street children

MUHANGA - Police in Muhanga district, on Wednesday, met with street children and idlers in Gitarama town.The group includes teenagers and minors who are the main cause of insecurity in the area, the acting District Police Commander, CIP Victor Vandama said.

Friday, March 04, 2011

MUHANGA - Police in Muhanga district, on Wednesday, met with street children and idlers in Gitarama town.
The group includes teenagers and minors who are the main cause of insecurity in the area, the acting District Police Commander, CIP Victor Vandama said.

"Police and district officials have agreed on a new kind of community policing program of educating and advising the group on how to be more productive. They have not been arrested as criminals but they are here so that we can talk,” he explained

"The goal is to assist some of them to go back to school, find jobs and go back to their respective families instead of being idle in the cities- and this will be a solution to cases of insecurity in the area.”

However, some of the street children told our reporter that they cannot go back to the villages as they preferred living in cities, where there are more opportunities.

Previously, residents and business community have raised concerns about idlers and street children who abuse drugs and are involved in crime.

Celse Gasana, the district Executive Secretary, says they have started a program to fight drug abuse which will focus on youth groups in general.

The meeting was attended by more than 50 idlers and street children.

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