This, according to Mulanje Police Spokesperson, Sub-Inspector Gresham Ngwira, leads to continued detention of minors behind police bars.

“We recently kept an under-aged boy accused of committing a burglary offence who spent one month in our custody as we waited for probation report from the DSWO,” said Sub-Inspector Ngwira.

Child Protection Officer at the DSWO, Paul Cheka, attributed the delays to inadequate staff at the DSWO.

“Currently we only have three qualified probation officers at our office,” said Cheka.

The law requires that the Office furnish courts presiding over cases suspected to have been committed by children.

This actually helps the court in determining justice for the cases.