He said police officers were often the first, children came into contact with when in distress or in conflict with the law, and needed a rights-based and professional approach to their protection.

Mr Acolatse who was addressing a workshop in Ho on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling children in conflict with the law for selected police personnel in Ho, said there was the need for SOPs for the Service to provide needed care and protection for children from improper parental supervision, which exposed them to danger.

He said one of the main objectives of the SOPs was to provide guidance in handling children who had been arrested or alleged to have committed a crime.   Mr Acolatse asked the police to follow laid down protocols and guidelines to safeguard the safety of vulnerable children.

About 100 police personnel drawn from all departments of the Service in Ho were taken through international best practices on handling children who come into contact with the law. Similar workshops are expected to be held for personnel of the Service in other parts of the Region.