The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, SIS Koroma has disclosed that within the past two to three months, over forty ‘hard core criminals’ who were kept in custody were released without the knowledge of the Police.
He said these were armed robbers or criminals, who were arrested and charged a couple of months ago, but that they were surprised to see them around. Some of the criminals he added escaped through the Court Fence to neighboring Countries from where they now operate.
In spite of all the efforts they have made to trace those criminals, some people are still blaming them, he said.
He therefore maintained that, the prevalence of armed robbery could not be blamed on the slackness of the Police as there are other factors responsible.
The AIG stressed that every effort is been made by the Police to minimize the incidence of armed robbery, but that the Police Force is confronted with serious logistical problems such as mobility and other motivations.
Crimes like house breaking and larceny, he observed, are always on the increase between the months of November and January, when ‘holiday makers’ from abroad come home to celebrate festivities.
SIS Koroma expressed their determination to counter any such occurrence in order to ensure maximum security throughout the seasonal period.
On the issue of lawlessness, he stressed that, this is a serious problem in the Country, especially among the youths whom he said now pays more attention to music than their studies.
This is evident in the abysmal WASCE result this year.
He narrated how most students or youths go around painting decent places in the City without first seeking the permission of the house owners, thereby messing up peoples houses that may have been neatly painted.
The AIG submitted that playing loud music; unwarranted painting; over loading; traffic offences; unlawful parking; driving without licenses; accepting bribes and riots are all lawlessness which should be abolished in the spirit of development.
By Solomon Rogers
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