KOTA KINABALU: About 357 juveniles and students have been arrested for numerous crime-related offences this year.
Disclosing this yesterday, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said although the figure was staggering, the young offenders in fact represented less than five per cent of the 2,355 arrested in the state.
He said 96 students had been detained for numerous crime-related offences between January and November this year.
“Among the crimes committed by youth are petty theft, housebreaking, fighting and rape, while some were arrested for serious offences.
“Although the five per cent is small, the number of youths involved or arrested for crimes are quite high,” he said at a press conference after officiating at the ‘Crime Awareness Day with Youth 2011’ at the Padang Merdeka here yesterday.
Hamza said the programme was held to focus on youth development and awareness on crimes.
He hoped that through such programme organized by the Royal Malaysian Police Department (PDRM) could help to educate the youth on crime prevention and abstain from unhealthy activity.
“We want the communities, including youth, to work together with the police in crime prevention in our country,” he said, adding that police officers and personnel are always friendly and approachable and would always listen to the people’s problems.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister cum Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, City Hall Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir, State Deputy Commissioner of Police SAC Datuk Tan Kok Liang and Malaysia Crime Foundation (Sabah) vice chairman Datuk Francis Yap.