Irate youth advised against lynching criminals

Kumasi, Feb. 7, GNA - An urgent appeal has been made to irate youth not to take the law into their own hands by resorting to lynching of suspected criminals but they should rather hand them over to the police for the appropriate action.

Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, a former President of Youth In Action, an embodiment of youth groups, said such acts were not only inhuman and illegal but also impeded the chances of the police to conduct investigations so as to help arrest collaborators of the crime. He made the appeal at a day's seminar in Kumasi on Saturday by the 'Wisdom Fun Club' of Buokrom for its members on the role expected of them in the protection of life and property.

"If the criminal is alive and handed over to the police, he will mention names of his collaborators to the police who will then trace and arrest them", he held.

Odeneho Appiah said in order to reduce the crime wave in the system, it was crucial that the police command broadcast the names, ages and relevant background of criminals arrested on the television, radio and publish them in the newspapers.

This, he believed, would deter criminals from repeating the crime after they have been released while at the same time warding off others. Odeneho Appiah also noted that the institution of award packages at all levels of the police command for persons who volunteer information about criminals was vital in crime combat.

He said apart from cash awards to informants, the police should also resolve to genuinely keep the identity of such volunteers undisclosed.