Yakasa: Sex crimes against minors up

By WALLACE KIALA

THE police sexual offence squad and NCD metropolitan command have been alarmed over the reported increase in the number of rape and sexual assault cases against minors, The National reports.

Latest reports indicated that many of the victims were primary school-aged children and many of the perpetrators were known to the families of the victims.

NCD metropolitan police commander Chief Supt Fred Yakasa said incest cases were also on the rise. However, he could not provide any figures.

“We have the most vulnerable group within our families and communities that are being targeted, and community leaders and parents must help clamp down on offenders,” Yakasa said.

“Parents and guardians must be mindful of people, or even relatives, whom they leave their female children with to look after,” he added.

A senior investigator with the sexual offence squad confirmed the reports yesterday.

The officer, who declined to be named, said the office had received an average of 10 cases a day in the last few months involving female and male victims under the age of 15.

“Most of the cases reported involved parents and children from broken marriages and homes.

“Even male children aged between four and 10 are being victimised by older male relatives,” she added.

She said because of cultural reasons, many of these offences were not reported to police and were often settled outside of the law.