‘Observe and report’ - St Catherine cops call on parents to help tackle sex-based offences

With sexual offences ranking highest on the list of crimes brought before the St Catherine Circuit Court, accounting for a third of the 300 cases, there is a drive to help curtail the predatory criminal acts.

As part of an education campaign, members of the St Catherine North Police Division hosted a police social action day at the Guanaboa Vale Police Station last Friday to foster a cohesive relationship between the authorities and the citizenry.

Detective Sergeant Tracey-Ann Cooper-Prince, the sub-officer in charge of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse in the division, begged for cooperation of residents to address the issues. She said that the unit have seen its share of such activities and the need for help was glaring.

"We need for you to observe and report any troubling suggestions from your children. Do not ignore and attack them, but listen and act by making a report," Cooper-Prince said. The senior crime-fighter said that reporting is the first step in preventing a furtherance of the offence and catching the perpetrators.

"I am imploring the parents and guardians not to ignore the concerns of the children, which is anyone under the age of 16 years old," Cooper-Prince said. She told the audience that while females commit sexual acts, males are the dominant perpetrators.

"It doesn't matter how a person dresses, it cannot be an excuse for rape or any sexual crime," she said.

It was revealed that sexual grooming, sexual touching, having sexual intercourse with someone under 16 years old, formerly referred to as carnal abuse, are some of the more prevalent sexual crimes in the division.

Shaniel Saddler, from the Office of the Children's Advocate, endorsed the need for the participation of adults in curbing these crimes.

"You have an obligation to report abuse, be it sexual, physical or otherwise. The problem can be stopped with your support," Saddler said. She said that reporting is a duty of the public and that the police and the National Children's Registry are able to collaborate and act to heal the hurt of many.