Ashanti Region DOVVSU records more defilement cases

During the year under review, the unit also recorded 36 rape cases as compared to the 28 cases it recorded in 2012.

The Regional Dovvsu Co-ordinator,  Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Benjamin Dokrugu, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said 13 of the suspects involved in the defilement cases were prosecuted in the law courts and committed to various terms of imprisonment. 

The cases reported, according to him, were from the various police districts in the Ashanti Region such as Kumasi, Atwima Nwabiagya and Suntereso, adding that some of the cases were  struck out due to lack of prosecution.

DSP Dokrugu also noted that the number of cases of parental neglect reported to the unit decreased from 1,165 in 2012 to 866 last year.

Similarly, the number of reported cases of threats of death and harm dropped by 40 from 156 cases recorded in 2012.

There was one case of sodomy reported in 2012 and none in 2013.

He explained that the increase in some reported offences could be as a result of public awareness about the legal avenues to seek redress whenever victims suffered domestic violence.

DSP Dokrugu disclosed that his outfit intended to mount public education on domestic violence to reach out to about 10,000 people this year, adding that under the project, the public would be educated on what constituted domestic violence, the effects on the individual, family and larger society and the legal remedies available to victims.

According to him, as part of the programme, DOVVSU  would equip the public with some security tips that could help them to avoid  or reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of some of the preventable crimes, especially defilement and rape.

He explained that as part of the strategy to achieve the target , DOVVSU was collaborating with the Ghana Education Service to reach out to pupils and students in about 180 basic schools and engage some artisans in the project.

DSP Dokrugu mentioned that the unit was able to reach out to about 218 residents of Kumasi to educate them on signs to look out for in order to avoid falling victim to criminals.