A single mother of a minor boy has expressed disgust and disappointment after her son was placed in the lockups at the Springlands Police Station over the weekend.
The woman told Stabroek News that her son was arrested by her neighbours and taken to the Springlands Police Station, after he reportedly stole items.
“At the time of his arrest, I was at home. But it was after I had left to visit a relative that I was told of the whereabouts of my son,” she said.
“Dem neighbour sey, he stole something, but I was not aware of that. So, dem catch he and dem police lock he in a cell from Saturday morning to today [Monday]. Is me big son come and tell me that dem hold the lil boy at the station. He is ten years old. I ask Police [name given] if he is not too small to go in the cell. But, he say that is the procedure. I also asked the Station Sergeant and he said it was ok for my child to be in the cell.
“I am appealing to Child Welfare officers and other relevant authorities to investigate matters involving the detaining of children, more primarily children who have not attained the age to be prosecuted by law. The police need to implement better systems to deal with children.”
The child told this reporter, in the presence of his mother, that while he was alone in a cell, it was a scary experience. He said there were rats, roaches and cooked rice stuffed in the toilet facilities. He said the persons in the other cell were cursing all the time.
The child later appeared in the chambers of the Springlands Court, where Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh advised his mother and the prosecutor that he was too young to be prosecuted. Thereafter, he dismissed the matter.
