St. Catherine North police say suspects in sexual abuse cases as young as 12

 

Commanding Officer for the St. Catherine North Police Division, Senior Superintendent Hopton Nicholson, has revealed that alleged perpetrators in sexual abuse cases in the parish are as young as 12 years old.

 

SSP Nicholson made the disclosure on Monday while speaking with community members following last week's rape of a seven-year-old girl in Treadways, Linstead.

 

"As young as age 12 to as old as age 80 we have arrested since the start of the year. So I just want to implore you, children, do not be afraid to tell your mother, tell your father, tell your brother, tell your sister, tell your teacher, any well-thinking adult. Anything that happens to you that you feel that is uncomfortable, do not be afraid, communicate. Let persons know that if they do anything to you, that you will tell a responsible adult because children are supposed to be protected," he urged. 

 

He said the increase in reported cases of sexual assault in the division this year is not the result of more incidents, but rather more victims coming forward, in some cases, long after the assaults took place.

 

He reported that up to Monday, there were 35 cases since the start of the year compared with 30 for the similar period last year.

 

"In context, I must make it clear that some of those, a lot of those that have been reported, did not occur during this period. But because there's no statute bar, a year or two years ago, people are more comfortable to report it, so we have to treat with it. So the increase in reports is not necessarily an increase in the numbers of incidents," he stressed.

 

SSP Nicholson said the suspect profile has not changed, with the majority of perpetrators known to the victims.