Cops to get tough on child begging

10 June 2017 04:20 am

In the wake of a sudden rise in child begging in the recent past, especially in the city of Colombo and its suburbs, the police have decided to initiate special raids to arrest those who forced children into begging, the Police Headquarters announced yesterday .

Police Media Spokesman DIG Priyantha Jayakody said during 14 raids conducted during the last three months, 18 children were taken into custody and produced in courts.

“Eleven boys, seven girls who were engaged in begging were arrested during the raids. Four of them were sent to children's probation homes. The remaining 14 were handed over to their parents on a Court bond,” he said.

Therefore police said special operations will be carried out in Colombo and the suburban to arrest the child beggars by the Police Children and Women's Bureau Head office and 42 other divisional offices. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)