…Protocol to be Established for Curfew

Chester Williams

ACP Williams says that several follow up meetings will be held to devise a protocol. The intent is to target parents, who, after a formal warning is issued to them, can very well be taken to court for neglect.

ACP Chester Williams, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“Moving forward we will be meeting again after the Easter in a more smaller group where we will devise the protocol, and then converge in a larger group and see where we go from there. As a part of the program what we want to do is to be able to have counseling for these children, especially those who are already involved in gang activities because some of them might have been traumatized based on what they might have witnessed being around these different gang groups. So counseling is also important so we will be recruiting counselors to come on board with us. We know that even though community rehab has counselors, they do not have in large numbers. So we’ll need persons to volunteer their services to assist us in counseling some of these children at times.”

Duane Moody

“Sir what were some of the concerns that came out from these agencies on this move?”

ACP Chester Williams

“Well the biggest concern for all basically was who are we targeting? Are we targeting the children or the parents? And it is made clear that the persons being targeted are the parents and what we will do, whenever we meet a child on the street, we will bring the child to the police station; we’ll get the parent to the station, CRD will be brought in. we’ll have a sit down with the child and the parent and the parent will be given a warning in writing. If there is a second occasion, then we will charge the parent for child neglect and then the parent will be going to court…we are looking along that route.”