Offences against children on the rise

Offences against children including rape and other sex-related offences are on the rise with Ratnapura and Anuradhapura Districts taking the lead, according to latest Police statistics.

According to statistics up to July, Ratnapura had the highest record of child offences, including 33 rapes of children, 18 serious sex offences, and 25 abuse cases. Here the total of child related offences stand at 92. In Anuradhapura the total of child related sex offences stand at 71. This is the second highest district wise with 30 child rapes, and 25 serious child related offences.

Up to July 2007 1291 incidents from 36 areas are recorded made up of 466 child rapes, 209 child related sex offences and 299 sex offences. Last year in Ratnapura recorded 75 child rape cases, 47 serious sex offences and 23 child abuse cases have been reported along with 15 kidnappings making a total of 181 child related offences.

Anuradhapura comes second where 71 rapes, 47 other sex related offences and 21 child abuse cases with 161 other related offences. In all 36 areas the total of child related offences stand at 2205 in 2006.