Handling delinquent children and their parents

I REFER to the report “Keep a close eye on your kids” (The Star, Nov 13). As an adviser for children appearing in court, I would like to stress that parents must be involved in the upbringing of their kids. I have time and again pointed out that it is parental care, supervision, love and understanding that will stop juvenile crimes. But today, besides delinquent children, we also have errant parents.

Recently, in my duties at court, I had to deal with six children ranging from 11 to 14 years old who had allegedly caused a fight with a hoe. Besides these affrays, we have children indulging in drugs or selling pirated DVDs.