More places of safety are needed
During a meeting attended by members of the Springs police and Hi5 Kids Recovery Unit regarding reporting missing children, issues that the police struggle with on a daily basis were brought to light.
Barries Barnard from Hi5 Kids Recovery Unit says many parents report their children as missing because they have problems with the child.
“If you have a problem child, do not report them missing, approach the court and open a family violence protection order against the child.”
What happens in this instance is that the magistrate will give the child certain times and rules he or she needs to abide by.
Also read: The seriousness of missing person reports
“If the child does not keep to these times set by the magistrate, the magistrate will assign the child to juvenile facilities,” he says.
This brought up another issue as Barnard says Springs does not have any facilities to detain children who commit a crime or break the rules.
“This is a big problem as far as children are concerned.
“The system is failing these children.”
Capt Jan Nel, sector two manager and operations commander, says all the places of safety in Springs are overfull and that there aren’t enough.
Also read: Places of safety create safe harbour
“We are in desperate need for places of safety where these children can be taken to while police investigate their family situation,” he says.
Current places of safety, while filled to the brim, will still take in children who are in need of a safe place.
Barnard says private people must register at the Springs and KwaThema Child Welfare as a temporary place of safety where a child can be taken until the first court date.
“What does it help if a child says they have a problem and they cannot stay at home, but the police cannot help because there is no place for the children to go, or they must then go to the police station?
“People are worried about contacting the child welfare for help if they are struggling, but being poor and admitting to needing help from the welfare is not a crime.
“The welfare will not take your children if they know you have asked for help, but if you do not and someone reports you for not sending your children to school, you will be investigated.”
He says the law is clear and that if someone knows or suspect a child is being abused in any way, they have to report it to the police.
“If you know and do not report and someone can prove that you knew, you will be arrested.”
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