Taipei has seen a steady decrease in juvenile delinquency one-and-a-half years since it launched its Juvenile Protection Program, officials said yesterday.
"Our goal is to build an environment of SKY -- which stands for safe, kind, and yes -- to give our teenagers a healthy and happy place free of fear and harm," said Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday. Ma was speaking at a press conference called to announce the progress to date of the juvenile protection reinforcement program after 18 months of operation.
According to Ma, the total number of juvenile delinquents arrested in 1999 was recorded as 2,437 people -- 1.3 percent less than that of 1998.
The number from January to May this year was 906, or about 4 percent less than that of the same period last year and about 9 percent less than that of the same period two years ago, he said.
In addition, the city last year charged 56 businesses with violations of various related laws -- including the Juvenile Welfare Law and the Social Order Mainten-ance Law (
Another 50 were charged between January and June this year, he said.
The Juvenile Welfare Law (少年福利法) forbids bar and discotheque proprietors from allowing those under the age of 18 to enter their premises.
Owners who transgress face fines of up to NT$10,000 or suspension of their operating license. Those who hire teenagers to engage in such jobs face fines of up to NT$15,000.
"Preventive measures are obviously not enough," Ma said, "The next step the city will take will be to create a better living environment for teenagers to prevent them from going astray."
He added that the city planned to open 120 schools and at least one municipal fitness center during the evenings to host community activities.
Wang Jinn-wang (
Activities will include daily radio broadcasts hosted by the municipal police juvenile squad and its Juvenile Counseling Committee, two new public information TV commercials to complement those currently being aired, and the launch of juvenile protection manuals and legal courses.
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