Accra, July 23, GNA - A total of 4,630 youths were involved in five major crimes that included defilement, rape, robbery, murder and possession of narcotic drugs last year. Statistics available at the Ghana Police Service indicates that defilement topped the list with 1,542 youths, followed by rape with 1,196 cases, robbery (942), possession of narcotic drugs (612) and murder (356). Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Eklu, Director of the Police Public Relations Directorate, announced this at the first in a series of outreach programmes for second cycle institutions in the Greater Accra Region held at the Nungua Senior Secondary School on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Directorate in Accra by Inspector A. K. Arthur said the programme was aimed at educating students and the youth on the functions of the police. It said the programme would, in addition help the students to identify the various types of crime and the necessary preventive measures to be adopted and establish closer relationship between the police and the youth. The programme is also to encourage students and the youth to form their own crime prevention clubs and develop their own preventive programmes to instil positive values, foster good citizenship and build self-confidence in the youth. ASP Eklu explained functions of the police to the students and urged them to see the police as friends and not enemies. He said the youth were not only perpetrators of crimes but were also victims of crime with girls being the most affected in defilement and rape cases.

He warned the students that their involvement in crime could jeopardize their future and advised them to be disciplined and show respect to their teachers and parents. Miss Kate Bannerman, Assistant Headmistress of the School, thanked the police for offering the students the opportunity to know more about the law, the police and different types of crimes.