BENGALURU: The possibility of juveniles getting involved in serious crimes in future are high, according to Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) P Harishekaran.
Releasing a book on children in conflict with the law, Harishekaran sounded a warning to a room full of social workers, members of Bangalore Oniyavara Seva Coota (BOSCO) and children. The book gives a perspective on children based on data collected for about a year between June 2013 and May 2014.
The data shows about 98 per cent of 175 juveniles involved in crimes over this period were boys. A majority of the children (53.5 per cent) were found to have committed the offence after they had dropped out of school.
The data also said that peer (52.4 per cent) and adult influence (10 per cent) were important factors leading to the offence. Sudden reaction was the reason in just 8 per cent of the cases.
“The information collected by BOSCO director Fr George and Dr Jobin Tom is the kind of extensive data that we need to prevent and deal with such cases,” Harishekaran said.
He observed that the lack of adequate training in dealing with cases related to children was a hindrance. “There are mistakes in training, especially at the individual level. The department, as a whole, is sensitive to the needs of children, but in individual cases, the same sensitivity is not seen,” he said.
Reformative and preventive strategies for both boys and girls at a young age, identifying disruptive behaviour by teachers and other professionals working with children, capacity building of parents, teachers and other professionals such as effective parenting, behavioural management of children, legislation and policies relating to children and ensuring a healthier family and living environment will go a long way in helping children deal with problems in a constructive manner, Fr George says in the book.