OLD HARBOUR, St Catherine - Sixty-nine students from various schools in Old Harbour were arrested for truancy last Friday, after they were found loitering in two game shops in Old Harbour while their schools were in session.

The delinquent students, ranging between ages 10 and 17 years and dressed in school uniform, were arrested when police swooped down on the game shops and found the gaming den jam-packed with schoolers feeding the coin machines with money and collecting cash from winnings.
The 69 were arrested and taken to the Old Harbour Police Station where they were detained for almost six hours before they were released in the custody of their parents.

Deputy Superintendent Dutress Foster-Gardener, in charge of the Old Harbour division , said at about 11:00 am Friday while schools were in session, the police raided the two game rooms where the delinquent students were found.

"They were all unconcerned when we (police) came in as they were busy feeding the machines with money and some were also collecting winnings at the cashier," she explained.
"Thirty-nine of them were taken from one of the so-called game rooms; 19 were arrested from another one; and six other students - boys and girls - were taken from a nearby canal where they had taken off their uniforms and were bathing in the nude."

The students were not charged, rather the parents were called in and counselling sessions held.

"We are now giving both parents and delinquent students a course of counselling in proper parenthood, the importance of supervising their children, the importance of having an education, conformity to rules and obedience," she said.

She noted that the parents have promised to, along with the police, monitor the children's attendance at school.
She said police will be posted on the streets to specifically see that students attend school and do not linger on the roads.

"We will have special officers on the streets to moniter them (students) and see that they attend school. We will not allow any students to enter these so-called game rooms because it is a bad influence on the kids," she said.

The clampdown on the behaviour of wayward kids and students comes against the background of the recent upsurge of violence in schools, and divisional commanders have been ordered to intensify this kind of surveilance.

It is also part of police commissioner Hardley Lewin's major five-point plan to counter criminal conduct at all levels regardless of how minor the infractions may be.

Meanwhile, Foster- Gardener gave the game room operators a severe warning, that they should not permit persons under 18 years old or students to enter the game room as it is a breach under the Gambling Act.

Feeding the multitude

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