Handbook on 'Crime Prevention'out

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

A book titled "handbook on Crime Prevention" was launched at the "Centre for Research and Training in Correction" at the Prison Complex in Borella last Friday by the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation of Sri Lanka. amidst a distinguished gathering. A copy of the book was handed over to the chief guest the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Suhada Gamlath at the book launch. The book deals with prevention of crime written in lucid language to be understood by the public.

Secretary Gamlath said that many who commit crimes belonged to the impoverished segment of society who have serious problems in integrating with normal social norms respected by the society. "Many of them come from disrupted family backgrounds and have not been to school for years. They are used from their young days to peddle drugs, illicitly brewed alcohol, commit petty crimes and end up in remand prisons. The repeated crimes committed by such offenders have gone up by 50 percent. This was an alarming situation. If we do not address this problem we will not be achieving the desired result," he said.

The former Chief Justice," Parinda Ranasinghe, the honorary Chairman said "Sri Lanka had the distinction of setting up the chapter way back in 1993 of the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation (ACPF) of Tokyo, Japan.

We have been making our own contribution in a small way towards making a crime free society". He said "the ACPF was granted consultancy status in the Economic and the Social Council of the United Nations in recognition of their valuable contribution towards preventing crime detection in May 1991.

DIG Asoka Wijethilaka said in a civilised society the police exist for the common good of the entire community and their primary duty was to prevent and detect crime. However due to serious LTTE security threats in the past the police were compelled to assume additional responsibility in the Northern and the Eastern provinces to protect persons and property.

This led to serious resource constraints as one half the strength was deployed in the North and the East. As a result the number of police officers required to perform essential police duties in other parts of the country was very much less than the actual number required", he said.

The former Commissioner General of Prisons, H.G. Dharmadasa also spoke. Others present were the former Justice of the Court of Appeal D. G. Jayalath, the Commissioner General of Prisons Major General V. R. Silva, retired DIG I. T. Canagaretnam, and other senior police officers.