Police highlights child neglect during Child Protection Week activities
Police use Child Protection Week to teach children that the police are there to help.
Roodepoort police launched their Child Protection Week activities at the Chilli Trench Moth Hall on Thursday, May 29.
According to Warrant Officer Juliet Mogale from the police’s social crime prevention unit, children are, despite their best efforts and increased awareness campaigns, still subjected to unthinkable neglect, abuse, and violence daily.
“Some children grow up in such horrible circumstances that they consider it normal. We are here to teach them that they have the right to be safe and happy.”
Mogale adds that one of the biggest challenges faced by police tasked with ensuring the safety of children is that in many communities, the police are regarded as the bad guys.
“Children see police coming into their communities to arrest people who are involved in criminal activities. These people are often either family or known to the children.
“They are taught that police come to catch people, and they are often threatened with their parents calling the police when they are naughty.
“They are taught that the police are to be feared, and not to be trusted.
“This makes it very difficult for us to get the message across that the police are there to protect them.
“Our activities today, and throughout this week, are aimed specifically at letting the kids see for themselves that the police are not the monsters that they are made out to be.
“We are here to help them.”
The event was attended by children from a number of local pre-primary schools and featured a wide variety of games and activities aimed at bringing this important message home.
Police were supported at the event by Roodepoort CPF members, and Gauteng Traffic Wardens, with food, treats and cold drinks sponsored by Panarottis.
