Juvenile delinquency is a growing problem in Maldives and there is much to be done to curt children involved crime.
According to the report of the Juvenile Justice unit of the Ministry of Home Affairs, juvenile delinquency has increased by 16.1 percent and the children involved in crime reached 167.
It is expected that this amount will be even more considering unreported cases.
Although the number of children reported to have been involved in crime increased, the number of children apprehended by Maldives Police Service decreased in 2014 considering the arrests in 2013. The report stated that this change is seen because of the improvement of the referral system.
However it is questionable whether it is a good progress for the society to have decreased the number of children arrested while juvenile delinquency increased by 16 percent.
The report noted that the pattern of juvenile delinquency has been the same in the past four years and it has been the same in 2014 as well.
The average age of children involved in crime is 17 and most of the children involved crime is possession of drugs.
Many of the children involved in crime are those expelled from school. This shows the importance of the changes that the government is trying to bring to the national curriculum.
Much to be done to curb children involved crime- report
