Great progress made in efforts to reduce street gang activities, says Deputy Commissioner of Police

Deputy Commissioner of Police Hussain Waheed has said that great progress is being made in the efforts by the police to reduce the activities of youths who act as street gangs.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner Hussain Waheed said that advice is being given to youths who gather at street corners in groups to refrain from such activities, and the youths have responded positively to this advice.

He thanked civilians for their support in the police’s efforts to identify the youths who act as street gangs.

He said that under these operations, 3,396 people had been checked and different areas in Male’ have been checked 10,917 times. Also, 725 people had been advised and 190 people arrested, and the 190 people arrested have been handed over to DPRS to carry out their sentences.

He said that two people who had been released under the Second Chance program have also been handed over to the relevant authorities after they were arrested for violating the law.

He went on to say that cases had been sent to the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office against 31 out of 50 people who had been identified as people who pose a danger to the society. He said that 39 cases involving 29 of those people had been filed to court, and discussions are ongoing with the PG Office regarding expediting these cases.

He also said that it had been noted that businessmen and senior politicians provide financial incentives to street gangs to carry out activities such as thefts, snatching and stabbing.