SHAH ALAM: A large number of suspects linked to child abuse cases due to neglect this year are caretakers, say the Selangor police.
State police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said statistics from January until October showed that such cases involved 387 child victims of abuse.
“Caretakers made up most of the suspects linked to abuse stemming from neglect, with 89 of them recorded in that period.
“Second are birth parents and teachers, each with 78 suspects. Step-parents make up the third most number of suspects at 69 people,” he said at the launch of the Child Interview Centre (CIC) 2 here yesterday.
September saw the most cases this year, with 56 reported.
In terms of age groups, most victims were one year old or younger, with 139 victims.
“While cases were rising, the increase was not drastic,” said Comm Hussein.
He also noted that Selangor had a higher number of cases compared to other states due to its population size.
On the launch of the new centre, Comm Hussein said it is the second CIC in Selangor, while a third might be set up outside the Klang Valley. The new CIC, he said, will allow investigators to provide a comfortable environment for children.
Having tools and toys for them in the interview room will also encourage child victims to better explain and express themselves to investigators, he added.
“Only the child and the interviewer will be allowed into the room for the process.
“There are tools that will be used to allow a child to better explain what happened,” said Comm Hussein.
