MCPF district branches to curb crimes which involve juveniles

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) will set up branches in districts nationwide to curb crimes involving juveniles aged between seven and 14 years-old.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said crimes involving juveniles rose despite a drop in the 2014 crime index to 12.6 per cent since the Prevention of Crime Act 2013 was introduced.

“The rise in crimes which involve school dropout juveniles is alarming. We have to act fast to contain it,” he told reporters after chairing the MCPF 22nd general meeting here yesterday.

Based on the 2014 crime statistics, the number of cases which involve schooling juveniles dropped by 17 per cent, while cases which involve school dropout juveniles rose by 29 per cent.

Ahmad Zahid, who is the MCPF chairman, said the rise was due to drug abuse and to curb this problem, they need to educate juveniles in schools.

The setting up of MCPF at the district level will encourage more schools to set up crime prevention clubs to encourage juveniles to avoid such activities.

Some 6,000 schools nationwide have set up crime prevention clubs to support crime prevention efforts. — Bernama