Police: Report child abuse or go to jail

THE CHILDREN’S PROTECTION UNIT yesterday warned the public that if they failed to report any suspicion of abuse against a child, they were liable to face hefty fines or jail time.

At the weekly press briefing at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain, Asst Supt Claire Guy-Alleyne said any parent, guardian or person responsible for a child who suspected the child might be a victim of abuse was mandated by law, specifically section 31 of the Sexual Offences Act, to report it.

“If found guilty of an offence under this section, the fine is $15,000 or imprisonment up to seven years, or you can be both fined and imprisoned,” Guy-Alleyne said.

She added that anyone who obstructed an investigation into allegations of abuse by preventing a child from making a statement or by any other means was also liable on summary conviction to a fine of $20,000 and to imprisonment for ten years.

“It is important that all persons in authority or in control of children understand the obligations that the law placed on them,” Guy-Alleyne said. “You are required to make a report to the police and you must co-operate with the investigation. An investigation is the process of unearthing the facts about an issue, and it is in your child’s best interest to facilitate and trust the process.”

She also pointed out that distributing child pornography was an offence that could land someone in jail for ten years or cost them a $20,000 fine.

Guy-Alleyne also encouraged parents to join the unit in protecting the nation’s children. She said parents had a duty and responsibility to supervise their children and should spare no expense in monitoring their children’s activities online and keeping tabs on the people they communicated with online, as the internet was rife with sexual predators.

“It is important to know what your child is doing and with whom. In today’s world, you also need to know how they present or represent themselves online,” Guy-Alleyne said. “For example, what social media profile or profiles do they have for the wider world to see? As parents, you should be interested in whether those profiles reflect the values you have instilled in them or expect them to live by.”

She said children also need to be monitored while offline and parents should know where their children are at all times and who they socialise with.

“Parents have a duty to supervise their children.” She said.

The CPU will mark its fourth anniversary on May 23.

For the year so far, it has laid 108 charges and made 50 arrests.