Police Warn of High Juvenile Crime Rates in Hulhumalé

Police have raised concerns over high levels of juvenile crime in Hulhumalé Phase 2, saying the situation requires daily attention.

Speaking at a press conference held at Iskandhar Koshi, Superintendent of Police Mohamed Shareef, head of the Crime Against Children Department, said the growing number of children involved in criminal activity poses a serious challenge for law enforcement.

Shareef said police have observed a rise in juvenile crime across the Greater Malé Area, including Malé, Vilimalé and Hulhumalé, with Hulhumalé Phase 2 identified as a particular hotspot.

“Our biggest concern is that the number of criminals is increasing day by day. Especially in the Greater Malé Area, we are seeing this trend everywhere, but crimes committed by children are now very high in Hulhumalé Phase 2,” he said.

He said police are working closely with parents to prevent children from becoming involved in crime. As part of efforts to curb gang-related offences, information on identified children is shared between relevant departments, including the Crime Against Children Department.

Based on this information, police have compiled a list of juvenile offenders, collecting details on more than 300 children, Shareef said.

He called on parents to work closely with police, stressing the importance of family involvement in addressing juvenile crime.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to parents, explain how their children are becoming involved in crime, and work together with them,” he said.

Shareef also said work is ongoing to make the juvenile justice system more inclusive. He added that the Juvenile Court should develop clear rehabilitation policies for young offenders.

According to Shareef, 71 children are currently enrolled in a rehabilitation programme being implemented across seven regions of the Maldives.