Youth crime surge alarms cops

Police raised the alarm over a surge in crimes involving young people, with hundreds of teenagers and young adults already charged in recent months, as Acting Commissioner Erwin Boyce revealed on Wednesday that the age group of greatest worry is those aged 15 to 30, many of whom have already been charged with major crimes.

“One of the areas that concern us, though, in all of the analyses that we have done in recent times, is the youth involvement in criminal activity,” Boyce told a press briefing at Police Headquarters on Roebuck Street, The City.
“I am advised that we’ve had, within the 15–19 age category, 391 persons charged. I am not saying all those persons were charged with serious crime.”

“From ages 20 to 29, 999 people were charged; between 30 and 39, 877 and between 40 and 44, 376. But those are the ones that concern us, because we are concerned about youth crime between the ages of 15 and, let’s say, 30. Those are the areas that concern us, because, again, the majority of persons charged are young men,” he stated.

The acting commissioner also addressed the issue of accused young men displaying hand signs while being escorted to and from the law courts.

Boyce said it could be a concern to the police because it is a form of communication, and the service will therefore investigate what message these perceived gang-related signs may be conveying.

(EJ)