The Eastern Regional Division of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) recorded a total of 2,403 criminal cases last year.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mrs Eunice Annor, the Regional Director of the DOVVSU, announced this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Koforidua on Thursday.
She said most of the cases were as a result of negligence and indiscipline on the part of the communities and parents.
DSP Mrs Annor said the cases included non-maintenance (1090), assault (727), defilement (230), rape (63), adoption (71), and threats of death/harm (59).
She said the other criminal cases included, offensive conducts (59), denying access to child (28), criminal abortions (21), stealing (20) indecent assault (19) and unlawful child removal (16).
DSP Annor said 80 non-maintenance cases were still awaiting trial while 342 were under investigation.
She further revealed that out of the 727 assault cases, 571 were still under investigations whereas 17 of them had been convicted.
According to her 620 females suffered assault as against 107 for the males.
DSP Annor expressed worry about defilement cases rising to 230 in 2010, adding “It is pathetic that 230 girls in the region are no longer virgins”.
He admonished parents to have time for their children, saying “They must have time for their children because they are future leaders and must teach them morals.”
To the children, she cautioned that they should be careful with strangers and avoid walking alone at night.
DSP Annor advised young girls to often wear bright coloured-dresses when walking at night.
“They should also try and wear decent dresses at all times” she added.
DSP Annor advised parents not to take offence when their neighbours corrected their wards.
“We must be each others’ keeper and the community should try to protect the younger ones” she said.